CHAPEL HILL -- Southern Orange County water customers will face higher rates Monday despite rains that have filled the water supply to 57 percent full.

The Orange Water and Sewer Authority board decided last night to proceed with the higher water rates in an effort to encourage customers to continue saving water.

OWASA is the community-owned, public non-profit water and sewer utility serving the Chapel Hill–Carrboro community including UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals. Stage Three restrictions on use of OWASA drinking water went into effect on March 1. OWASA’s three reservoirs were then 40 percent full. With rains since then, two small lakes are now full, but the community’s primary water source, the Cane Creek Reservoir, remains less than half full. The OWASA board will meet next March 27, and will review water supply and demand, drought forecasts and related factors. OWASA staff has recommended that if the utility’s lakes are at least 60 percent full by April 1, the Stage Three Water restrictions and surcharges should be reviewed.

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