HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2002-025 Resolution Endorsing and Agreeing to Sponsor and Host a Water Summit~
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DRAFT
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
A Resolution ~
Endorsing and Agreeing to 5ponsor and Host a Water Summit
WHEREAS, Orange County, in discharging its statutory responsibilifies to protect and enhance
the public health, safety and welfare of all the citizens of Orange County, does
have a strong interest in assuring the availability of high quality sources of potable
water; and
WHER~AS, Orange County owns a~d operates Lake Orange, a water supply reservoir that
serves as a primary water supply for the Town of Hillsborough and the Orange-
Alamance Water Systein; and '
WHEREAS, Orange County coordinates the use of water supplies drawn from the Eno River
under the provision of the Eno River Capacity Use Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Orange Cou.nty has no pecuniary interest in the sale or iransfer of treated or raw
water supplies within the County or elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, Orange County's geographic location in the upper reaches of a number of water
supply watersheds and in fractured rock geology severely limits the quantity of
water available for drinking water supplies derived frorn either surface water and
ground water sources; and ~
WAEREAS, the environmental impact and financial cost associated with the development and
consiruction of new reservoirs renders the development of new reservoirs and
water supplies within Orange County unlikely; and
WHEREAS, Orange County does have an interest in making the most efficient use of limited
resources; and
WHEREAS, Orange County seeks to ensure that the demand for water supplies generated by
population growth and development can be reconciled with availability of the
resource in a smart, sustainable manner; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Orange County are provided municipal water utility services by the
Town of Hillsborough, Orange Water and Sewer Authority, the City of Durham,
the City of Mebane and the Orange-Alamance Water System; and
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WHEREAS, the water distribution systems of the Town of Hillsborough, Orange Water and
Sewer Authority, the City of Durham, the City of Mebane and the Orange-
Alamance Water System axe interconnected; and
WHEREAS, in time of need, treated water has been and is still transferred to, between and
through the water distribution systems of the Town of Hillsborough, Orange Water
and Sewer Authority, the City of Durham, the City of Mebane and the Orange-
Alamance Water System; and
WHEREAS, Orange County conducts an ongoing dialogue with the Town of Hillsborough,
Orange Water and Sewer Authority, the City of Durham, the City of Mebane and
the Orange-Alamance Water System about the extension of utilities to provide
water utility service and fire protection for commercial enterprises, new and
existing residential development, new schools and other essential public facilities;
and ~
WHEREAS, Orange County finds it desirable and necessary that all water utilities serving the
citizens of the County have the opporh~nity to meet to discuss issues of mutual
concern and benefit;
NOW, THEREFORE, do we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, hereby resolve to
sponsor and host a Water Summit involving all of the major water utility providers to the citizens
of Orange County (the Town of Hillsborough, Orange Water and Sewer Authority, the City of
Durham, the City of Mebane and the Orange-Alamance Water Systern) and to direct staff to
orga.nize such as summit to be tentatively scheduled for May 16, 2002 at the Southem Human
Services Building in Chapel Hill.
This is the 16th day of April, 2002
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners