Orange Water and Sewer Authority
400 JONES FERRY ROAD
CARRBORO NC 27510
Telephone: (919) 968-4421 or E-mail: OWASA

Summary of current rates (effective on October 1, 2005)

Most of our water rates increased 6% and most sewer rates increased 6.25% on October 1, 2005. Below is a summary of our current rates and fees.

The rate increases are primarily due to capital improvement needs including replacement and renovation of old water and sewer pipes to maintain reliable service, and $50 million of improvements underway at the Mason Farm Wastewater Treatment Plant to improve the quality of water recycled into Morgan Creek, enable the future reuse of highly treated wastewater for non-drinking purposes, eliminate off-site odor and increase the reliability of the plant by adding a back-up power generator. OWASA is a public, non-profit agency and our rates are set to recover the costs of various services.

For a typical residential customer who uses 6,000 gallons of water per month, the average monthly water and sewer bill will increase $3.43 per month over the next full year:

Comparison of average monthly water and sewer bills

Previous rates

October 1, 2005 rates

Amount of increase

Percentage increase

$56.45 per month*

$59.88 per month*

$3.43 per month

6.1%

* Because OWASA has seasonal water conservation rates, water charges are higher than the averages in these comparisons from May through September and lower than the average from October through April.

Current rates and fees (effective on October 1, 2005)

Service
Rates effective on October 1, 2005
Service
Rates effective on October 1, 2005
Monthly Service Charge for Water Service, by Meter Size
Nonresidential Water Service Availability Fee*

5/8” meter

9.84

5/8” meter

2,653.00

19.76

6,632.00

1-1/2

42.74

1-1/2

13,265.00

64.50

21,224.00

132.63

42,448.00

216.52

66,325.00

471.50

132,650.00

670.30

212,240.00

 
* Service Availability Fees for Irrigation-Only accounts are the same.
Monthly Service Charge for Irrigation-Only Service
Residential Sewer Service Availability Fee

5/8” meter

15.75

for a 5/8” meter at a single-family residence

31.48

< 1,300 square foot home

1,586.00

1-1/2”

58.28

1,300 - 1,700 square-foot home

1,915.00

89.63

1,701 - 2,400 square–foot home

1,950.00

177.42

2,401 - 3,100 square-foot home

2,389.00

272.35

3,101 - 3,800 square-foot home

2,582.00

535.75

>3,800 square-foot home

2,931.00

852.00

 5/8” meter, multifamily  residential

1,718.00

Plus a Water Commodity Charge per 1,000 Gallons:
Nonresidential Sewer Service Availability Fee

Off-peak seasonal rate (October- April)

2.74

5/8” meter

3,410.00

Peak seasonal rate (May-September)

5.20

8,525.00

Surcharges to be added to peak or nonpeak seasonal water rates during declared water shortages; for residential customers

1-1/2”

17,050.00

27,280.00

Level of water shortage

0-5,000 gallons/mo.

6,000-10,000 gallons/mo.

Over 10,000 gallons/mo.

54,560.00

Stage 1

0

50%

100%

85,250.00

Stage 2

0

100%

200%

170,500.00

Stage 3 and Emergency

0

200%

400%

272,800.00

Monthly Service Charge for Sewer Service, by Meter Size

Service Extensions

5/8” meter

6.81

Water service installation

11.73

Complete service, 5/8” meter

2,200.00

1-1/2”

20.20

Complete service, 1” meter

2,360.00

30.55

Meter only, 5/8”

180.00

57.75

Meter only, 1”

220.00

88.28

Meter only, 1.5”

460.00

171.85

Meter only, 2”

1,320.00

276.20

Delivery charge for 3” and larger meters

60.00

Plus a Sewer Commodity Rate per 1,000 Gallons

Water tap

250.00

(applies to metered water use)

3.44

Water tap reinspection fee

55.00

Sewer Commodity Rate—sewer-only accounts

3.83

Sewer tap

285.00

Residential Water Service Availability Fee

Sewer tap reinspection fee

55.00

for a 5/8” meter at a single-family residence

Other

< 1,300 square foot home

906.00

Service start/temp. disconnect, business hours

40.00

1,300 - 1,700 square-foot home

1,107.00

Service start after business hours

70.00

1,701 - 2,400 square–foot home

1,400.00

Name change in account record

10.00

2,401 - 3,100 square-foot home

2,395.00

Inter-local/bulk water, per 1,000 gal.

3.93

3,101 – 3,800 square-foot home

3,255.00

Bulk water sale, admin. charge per trip

19.00

>3,800 square-foot home

5,466.00

Hydraulic fire flow test

200.00

5/8” meter, multifamily residential

976.00

Returned check or draft charge

18.00

Bulk/high strength wastewater
Reconnect delinquent delinquent account, business hrs .
40.00
Monthly admin. charge per trip
20.00
Reconnect delinquent acct. after business hrs.
70.00
Volume charge for septage, per 1,000 gallons
57.00
Inter-local/bulk wastewater service/1,000 gal.
3.83
Biological Oxygen Demand
0.22
Set and remove temporary hydrant meter
200.00
Suspended Solids
0.15
Hydrant meter security deposit
1,000.00
Ammonia Nitrogen
2.28
Plan Review per linear ft.
2.00
Phosphorus
6.40
Construction Observation per linear ft.
1.82
   
Lake use fees-- OWASA customers and Orange County residents
Lake use fees-- Other persons
Boat rental (half day) or use of private boat
6.50
Boat rental (half day) or use of private boat
11.00
Electric trolling motor rental (half day)
12.75
Lake use fee, ages 12 - 64
4.25
Lake use fee, ages 12-64
2.75
Lake use fee, under 12 years
1.25
Lake use fee, under 12 years
1.25
Lake use fee, 65 years and older
1.25
Lake use fee, 65 years and older
1.25
Electric trolling motor rental (half day)
18.00
Individual season pass (boat rental only)
65.00
UNC Boat Club -- per boat per semester
25.0
Individual pass (boat rental w/ motor)
130.00
UNC Boat Club --per member per semester
8.75
Group season pass--boat or canoe rental
130.00
 
Group pass--boat rental w/ trolling motor
195.00
 

 

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