By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
CARRBORO – Following a March vote to deny the Orange Water and Sewer Authority’s request to use its Jordan Lake water allocation, members of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen on Tuesday said they would consider limiting growth and development if necessary to avoid outpacing water supply, and would request that Chapel Hill and UNC consider similar measures.
Citing concerns that there could be years of tight water supply leading up to the availability of water from the quarry at the American Stone Company in 2030, board member Dan Coleman initiated the discussion.
Board member Joal Hall Broun said she was concerned that Carrboro and Chapel Hill differed on certain philosophies, and that it might be difficult to come to an agreement on development and water supply.
“We are all in Orange County and we are directly adjacent to Chapel Hill, but we have some policies that are different for Carrboro than they are for Chapel Hill,†she said. “There are some things that we believe that Chapel Hill doesn’t believe.â€
Coleman said that he felt it was important to have the discussion with Chapel Hill, pointing out that Chapel Hill is considering redevelopment of the area around Eastgate and Ram’s Plaza, as well as other developments.
“They have big projects in the works in Chapel Hill,†he said.
Board member Jacquie Gist also pointed out UNC’s planned developments.
“I think the university would be part and parcel of that conversation,†she said.
Earlier this year, OWASA requested to use its 5-million-gallons-per-day allocation of water from Jordan Lake, seeking approval from Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Orange County officials. The authority can already draw from the lake through Durham or Cary in the event of an emergency, but the change would have allowed OWASA to use water through its own allocation.
Hillsborough and Orange County officials approved OWASA’s request, while Chapel Hill and Carrboro denied it, saying additional water isn’t needed and citing concerns about the water quality. Without Carrboro and Chapel Hill approval, the change won’t take effect.
The state periodically reviews the allocations of water from Jordan Lake. OWASA says it needs to more aggressively pursue the allocation from the state or risk losing it. The water would be used in the event of emergencies and to stave off tightening water restrictions during droughts, according to OWASA.
The board also agreed to lend its support to OWASA in lobbying state officials to allow the authority to keep its Jordan Lake allocation.
“What I’m suggesting is that we not leave OWASA to fend for itself,†Coleman said, adding that board members should be willing to contact state environmental officials.
“I think it’s absolutely essential that OWASA has the support of its local governments … to retain our allocation and get access to it,†said Ed Kerwin, OWASA executive director. Kerwin added that OWASA would communicate with the board when the support is needed.