The Orange Water and Sewer Authority will consider delaying surcharges at a meeting Thursday.

The utility's board declared a Stage 3 water shortage on Feb. 28, when its water-supply lakes were 40 percent full. Stage 3 restrictions went into effect March 1, and surcharges for all customers were scheduled to take effect next week.

OWASA bills residential users on the basis of gallons used per month. Under Stage 3, a surcharge would apply for the first time to customers using 3,000 to 5,000 gallons per month. The rate would rise from $4.70 per 1,000 gallons to $5.88. Spokesman Greg Feller said the surcharge would cost the average residential customer an extra $3.54 a month.

Nonresidential customers would see a much steeper increase. They would be billed at peak seasonal rates, which normally don't take effect until May, with an additional 1.25 percent surcharge. Customers now paying an off peak $3.08 per 1,000 gallons would begin paying $7.31 per 1,000 gallons, Feller said.

With about 10 months of water supply on hand and OWASA lakes at 57 percent full overall, the utility's staff now supports delaying the surcharges.

OWASA serves the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area, including UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals.

But Executive Director Ed Kerwin cautioned Tuesday that the water supply is still at a record low level for this time of year and that the staff is not recommending relaxing water-use restrictions. Lakes would need to be 60 percent full by April 1 for the staff to recommend that the board consider easing restrictions.

Pool businesses objected to the new rules, which prohibit refilling and topping off swimming pools with OWASA drinking water. Some operators predicted mosquito-infested pools if pools could not be properly maintained.

The town of Chapel Hill estimated it could have to pay $40,000 to buy and truck in water to fill two new pools scheduled to open in June on Homestead Road.

Stage 3 restrictions also prohibit irrigation except with hand-held hoses or watering cans, among other restrictions.