Utility may declare Stage 3 water rules
Published: Wed, Feb. 27, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Wed, Feb. 27, 2008 02:23AM
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closeCHAPEL HILL -- The Orange Water and Sewer Authority will discuss declaring a Stage 3 Water Shortage on Thursday.
The declaration would put additional water use restrictions and water rate surcharges into effect for OWASA customers.
The OWASA board will meet at 7 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The meeting will be televised live on local cable Channel 18.
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OWASA serves 80,000 people in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community including UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals.
Rainfall from February 2007 through January 2008 at the Cane Creek Reservoir has totaled only 26 inches, or 60 percent of normal. OWASA's water supplies have declined steadily since last summer, and the lakes are now 40 percent full.
Recent rain has not significantly raised lake levels.
The 1.4 billion gallons of water in OWASA's lakes would last five to six months with no additional rain. OWASA staff has recommended a Stage 3 Water Shortage if the lakes are less than 45 percent full March 1.
Read more about OWASA's long-term drought plans in today's Chapel Hill News or online at www.chapelhillnews.com.
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