OWASA declares stage three water shortage

On February 28th, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) Board declared a Stage Three Water Shortage.

Stage Three Water Use Restrictions went into effect on March 1st.

The Stage Three water shortage declaration is based on the following:

·    Although recent rainfall improved our water supply situation, our lakes were only 57% full as of March 12th.  It is unprecedented for our lakes to be so low at this time of year.
·    Rainfall from May, 2007 through February, 2008 at our Cane Creek Reservoir, which is our community’s primary water source, was only about 50 percent of normal.
·    The National Weather Service continues to forecast below normal rainfall this spring.
·    The water rate surcharges in effect in the Stage Three Water Shortage will provide a substantial incentive to conserve water.

Stage Three restrictions on use of OWASA drinking water
Please note: The restrictions below apply only to use of OWASA drinking water. You may wish to collect water in rain barrels for non-drinking purposes such as watering plants, to use well or creek water for suitable purposes and/or to use OWASA’s highly treated wastewater, or “reclaimed” water for certain non-drinking purposes as discussed below. In Stage Three conditions, we provide reclaimed water at no charge to people with individual containers that hold at least 50 gallons.

·  No irrigation with OWASA drinking water is permitted, except with hand-held hoses or watering cans. Such irrigation shall not occur more than three days each week (Tuesday, Thursday and/or Saturday for odd-numbered addresses; Wednesday, Friday and/or Sunday for even addresses); may be applied to non-grass plant material only; and is limited to one-half inch per week. All hoses used for hand watering shall be equipped with shutoff nozzles.
· OWASA drinking water shall not be used for any other outdoor purposes except emergency fire suppression or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety, or welfare. The protection of public health, safety, and welfare may, under special circumstances, require the use of limited amounts of OWASA drinking water for such purposes as washing out garbage trucks, cleaning up hazardous or other unsanitary materials, etc. if other practical alternatives are not available and water is used in the least practical amount. No exterior use of OWASA drinking water shall result in the flow of water onto adjacent property or public right-of-way.
· Water leaks shall be repaired within 10 days of notice by OWASA.
· No OWASA drinking water shall be used to wash vehicles or building exteriors.
· No OWASA drinking water shall be used to fill or re-fill empty swimming pools or to top off operating swimming pools.
· Restaurants and dining facilities may serve OWASA drinking water only at a customer’s request.
·  Hotels, motels, and other facilities providing sleeping accommodations shall change bed linens only upon request of the customer, or upon customer changeover, or every five days for long-term customers.
· No OWASA drinking water shall be used to flush or pressure test new water distribution lines unless that water is returned to the OWASA system through methods approved by OWASA. This restriction does not apply to the .testing of in-building fire control sprinkler systems.
· No bulk sale of OWASA drinking water is allowed except for purposes necessary to maintain public health, safety, or welfare.
·  No OWASA drinking water may be used for fire department training or equipment testing.
· Water use of 600 gallons per day or more at individually-metered residences and by individually-metered single-family residential irrigation-only customers is considered extremely excessive and OWASA may temporarily terminate service for customers exceeding 600 gallons of use per day in a monthly billing cycle while State Three restrictions are in effect.

Reclaimed water may be used for the following if there is no ponding or run-off to stormdrains,streams, etc.:

• irrigation of landscapes and turf (grass)
• cooling tower make-up water
• cleaning the exterior of buildings
• concrete mixing and concrete cutting
• commercial washing of vehicles
• sewer cleaning by OWASA or OWASA contractors
• street sweeping (not street cleaning)
• cooling tower make-up water
• soil compaction and dust control
• firefighting and fire extinguishing

Reclaimed water users and haulers must receive training, which is conducted on Thursdays at 9:30 AM at the Mason Farm WWTP. To receive the training, please call the WWTP staff at 537-4350 at least a day in advance. There is no fee for the training and it takes about 45 minutes. Containers used to carry reclaimed water must be specially marked, and reclaimed water cannot be stored for more than 72 hours.

What are the best ways to conserve?

The answer to this question depends, of course, on a customer’s particular water use patterns and needs. Businesses and institutions should consider replacing or retrofitting water-using equipment to achieve the same results with less water, and operate and maintain water-using devices so that they will operate with the least amount of water possible.

For many residents, businesses, offices, etc. the following water conservation methods should have high priority:

· Flush toilets only when absolutely necessary. Toilet flushing is the largest single indoor water use in residences and many businesses such as offices and retail stores.
· Replace or retrofit older (pre-1994) toilets, which generally use 2 to 3 times as much water as new water-saving models. If replacement is not practical, reduce the flushing water volume by adding a container of water in the toilet tank. (Make sure normal operation of the toilet flapper, fill valve, etc. is not affected.)
· Regularly check for and fix water leaks. Toilets are one of the most common places for leaks. To check them, put food dye in the toilet tank and wait 15-20 minutes without flushing; if the dye appears in the toilet bowl, there is a leak, probably at the flapper in the bottom of the toilet tank.
· Wash clothes and dishes only with full loads; scrape and wipe dishes and utensils before washing them.
·Take short showers; use the water to wet down and rinse off, but turn off the water while lathering, scrubbing and shampooing. We give away low-flow showerheads (rated at 1.5 gallons per minute) in our office at 400 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro.

These are only some examples of how to conserve water, but there are many more ways people can reduce their water use.  We appreciate whatever methods you use to help save water!

For more information or to report water waste:

Please contact us 968-4421 or webmaster@owasa.org, or visit or write to us at our offices, 400 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro, NC 27510.  You can also visit our website at www.owasa.org to obtain more information about the status of our water supplies, the restrictions in effect, and various ways of conserving water.

OWASA is the community-owned, non-profit, public water and sewer agency that serves the Carrboro-Chapel Hill community.