Mayors save water challenge!
On World Water Day, Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger challenged Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle to see which community can save the most water throughout April. Help crown your town the Water Winner in 3 easy steps! 1) Take the save water pledge, 2) Conserve, and 3) Track your water use with Agua Vista. The winning community – Chapel Hill or Carrboro – will be announced at the end of the campaign. Be a water warrior and learn more!
Save water and save money - with Agua Vista
Track your water use with Agua Vista, the dedicated portal where you can view your daily water use and set leak alerts – savings for the planet and your pocketbook! Agua Vista offers the convenience of managing your water needs all in one place: track your use by the hour, day, week, or month; get customized tips on how to conserve; pay your bill plus view your billing history; and more. View more benefits and how to register now!
Apply for the Youth Water Academy!
Students from grades 9 to 12 in Carrboro and Chapel Hill are invited to apply for OWASA’s Youth Water Academy. The Academy has 2 components: Learn and Lead. Learn from OWASA’s diverse team of engineers, operators, distribution and collection crews, scientists and more - about the fascinating process of protecting and delivering the local water system. Then be a water leader in the community. The Academy is free. 12 spots are open. Deadline for applications is March 26. Learn more and apply now!
Temporary change in OWASA’s water disinfection in March
Would you dip your cup into the lake and drink it? Probably not! Carrboro and Chapel Hill’s raw water comes from University Lake and Cane Creek Reservoir. It goes through a comprehensive treatment process at OWASA’s plant before it reaches people’s taps. Chloramine, a compound of chlorine and ammonia, is used to disinfect water throughout the year except in March when we use chlorine only. OWASA customers may notice a slight chlorine taste or odor in their tap water. This is temporary for the month of March and water remains safe to drink. Learn more here.
Capital improvement project at University Lake
University Lake was formed in 1932. The construction of the dam at the lake included flashboards to enable water storage and OWASA has begun replacing them. Throughout the project, community members may see the lake level decrease. Combined with our water storage at Cane Creek Reservoir, water supply remains high at more than 90%. The project is scheduled to be complete in April. Learn more about it and the community's water system here.
About OWASA
OWASA is Carrboro-Chapel Hill's community-owned, non-profit agency providing high quality water, sewer (wastewater), and reclaimed water services. In partnership with communities we serve, we are responsible stewards of our community’s sustainable resources.
In employment, business operations including but not limited to contracting and in all services to the community, OWASA does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin or political affiliation.
Our Customer Service Office is in our Administration Building at 400 Jones Ferry Road in Carrboro (next to the Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant and the Barnes Street-Jones Ferry Road intersection). Our normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We are closed on major holidays. Here is a map to our main offices.