HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-09-2007-12aSYr~-ofm~'~' i o~ ..Z-E'f'_nn
PROCLAMATION OF A STAGE 1 WATER SHORTAGE
AFFECTING CUSTOMERS IN THE UNINCORPORATED ORANGE
COUNTY AREAS WITHIN THE ORANGE WATER AND SEWER AND
SEWER AUTHORITY'S SERVICE AREA
WHEREAS, a prolonged period of low rainfall and streamflow, which began early
in the Spring of 2007, has resulted in water levels at University Lake and Cane Creek
Reservoir that are lower than in any previous June on record; and
WHEREAS, average daily water use in the Orange Water and Sewer Authority's
service area reached 11 million gallons per day for September 2007, up from the usual
September daily demand of 9.6 million gallons per day; and
WHEREAS, since the OWASA Board . of Directors adopted a Resolution
Requesting Voluntary Water Conservation Practices on August 23, 2007, the total
volume of water stored in OWASA's Cane Creek/University Lake/Stone Quarry
reservoir system continues to decline and is approaching the 175 day level, as
estimated by customer demand patterns of the past 30 days; and
WHEREAS, long range weather forecasts anticipate that current drought
conditions~will persist for several more months; and
WHEREAS, the OWASA Board of Directors adopted a Resolution Proclaiming a
Stage 1 Water Shortage on September 27, 2007; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners on June 26, 2003
adopted AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE YEAR-ROUND CONSERVATION
OF WATER AND FOR TEMPORARY RESTRICTIONS DURING WATER
SHORTAGES AND EMERGENCIES RELATED TO ALL ORANGE WATER AND
SEWER AUTHORITY CUSTOMERS LOCATED IN THE UNINCORPORATED PART
OF ORANGE COUNTY, which. ordinance is referenced in this proclamation as the
"V1/ater Shortage Ordinance' ;
SOW, THEREFORE, 1, Moses Carey, Jr., Chair of the Board of Commissioners
of Orange County, do hereby:
1. Proclaim the existence of a Stage I Water Shortage, under the Water
Shortage Ordinance of the County of Orange,
2. Call upon all customers and users of OWASA water in the unincorporated
Orange County areas within the Orange Water and Sewer Authority's service area to
follow the Stage I water use restrictions, as provided in the County's ordinance. These
restrictions include the following:
Upon OWASA's declaration of a Stage One Water Shortage, the following actions shall
betaken with the goal of reducing overall water demand by ten (10) percent:
1. Water use by individually metered residential customer accounts and by individually
metered irrigation-only accounts shall be limited to no more than an average of one
thousand (1,000) gallons per day during any monthly billing cycle beginning after the
declaration of a Water Supply Shortage or Water Supply Emergency and ending
while such restrictions are still in effect.
2. Spray irrigation using OWASA-supplied potable water shall not occur mare than one
day per week with a maximum of one-half inch of water applied to plant material in
any given week. Even-numbered properties shall be allowed to spray irrigate only on
Tuesdays; odd-numbered properties shall be allowed to spray irrigate only on
Thursdays. Spray irrigation shall occur only between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 9:00
a.m. These restrictions shall not apply to the watering of containerized plants and
commercial plant stock in trade.
3. Irrigation by underground, drip irrigation, micro spray, low precipitation bubblers,
soaker hose systems with automatic shutoffs, or by hand held hoses or watering cans
may occur at any time or frequency, but shall be limited to a maximum of one-half
inch of water applied to plant material in any given week.
4. No OWASA-supplied potable water may be used to re-fill ornamental fountains,
ponds, and like devices.
5. No OWASA-supplied potable water may be used for the routine cleaning or washing
of paved areas, such as sidewalks, decks, driveways, roadways, or parking lots. This
restriction shall not apply to the pressure cleaning of exterior building surfaces.
Violation of the Water Shortage Ordinance shall be a misdemeanor punishable
as provided in N.C. General Statute 14-4: Violation of the Water Shortage Ordinance
shall subject the offender to a civil penalty of $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second
offense within a 30-day period and $100 for any additional offense within a 30-day
period. If the penalty is not paid within 10 days of a citation, the County may. recover the
penalty through a civil action in the nature of a debt. The County may enforce the Water
Shortage Ordinance through any appropriate equitable action. Each day that a violation
continues shall be constitute a separate offense. The County may enforce the Water
Shortage Ordinance through one or a combinafiian of the above remedies.
This the 28th day of September, 2007 ~ ~
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair of the Bgfq~c~/ofj~ammissioners