1. Department of Water Management Water Supply Update
Drought/Water Forum
January 8, 2008

2. North Carolina Drought Monitor
Department of
Water Management

3. Department of
Water Management

4. Current Conditions – 1/6/08
Lake Michie: ft. (13.10 ft. below full)
Little River Reservoir: (22.60 ft. below full)
Average Demand (12/31/07 – 1/6/08): MGD
Department of
Water Management

5. How is “days of supply” determined?
Snap shot of current conditions
Uses major assumptions
Current usable volume in lakes
No additional inflow
No additional rainfall
Average daily demand ( 30-day average)
Uses computer model specifically developed for Durham, 78 years of stream flow, evaporation and precipitation data
Model runs weekly throughout the year
Can produce “what if” scenarios
Displays a “risk of failure”
Department of
Water Management

6. Days of Supply as of 1/6/08 Assumptions:
Average demand (30-day running avg.): MGD*
Zero Flow into lakes
Zero Rainfall
No reduction in demand
(*demand on lakes only; does not include purchases)
Lake Michie and Little River: 87 days
Teer Quarry: 31 days
Below Intake Structures: 64 days
TOTAL: 182 days
Department of
Water Management

7. Where are we now?
Stage IV, Severe Mandatory Conservation became effective Monday, December 3rd
Goal: 50% reduction
40% reduction – when comparing 30-day running average on Sept. 21st (35.28 MGD) to 30-day running average on Jan. 6th (21.26 MGD)
11% reduction when compared to January 2007
Department of
Water Management

8. Water Supply Status Updates
Department of
Water Management

9. Stage IV - Requirements
Stage IV restrictions:
No watering or sprinkling of any lawn or grass.
No watering of trees, ornamental shrubs, or veg. gardens except by hand-held container on Saturdays, between the hours of 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. OR 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Water may not be used to wash down outside areas such as patios, driveways, sidewalks.
Restaurants may not serve water except upon request by the customer.
Use water for any unnecessary purpose or intentionally waste water.
Department of
Water Management

10. Stage IV - Requirements
Stage IV restrictions (continued):
No water may be introduced into wading pools or swimming pools or replenish any filled pool except to maintain operation of chemical feed equipment.
No water may be introduced into any decorative fountain, pool or pond except where the water is recycled.
No washing of a motor vehicle or other type of mobile equipment. Commercial car wash facilities or individuals regularly engaged in the business of washing vehicles CAN operate when 50% water savings are documented.
Department of
Water Management

11. Stage IV - Requirements
All industrial, manufacturing, and commercial enterprises shall reduce consumption with a goal reduction of at least 50%. Such enterprises shall document the specific efforts they have made to reduce consumption.
Department of
Water Management

12. Water Supply Options – short term
Access to Jordan Lake Allocation (up to 10MGD)
Through Town of Cary water system
Limited by conveyance systems
Approximately 1.36 MGD since 9/25/07
Increased to 2.2 MGD on 10/3/07
Working w/Cary staff to increase this to 4 MGD
Reserve volume in Lake Michie and Little River Lake
Approximately 1.2 billion gallons
Difficult to access
Water quality – not typical of what customers expect; may prove more difficult to treat; staff conducting tests to evaluate
Department of
Water Management

13. Water Supply Options –short term
Accelerate planned 2nd interconnection with Cary – potentially online mid-summer 2008 (7 MGD)
Agreements with
OWASA
Hillsborough
Orange-Alamance
Other options through interconnections
Department of
Water Management

14. Teer Quarry – Short Term
Making temporary connection to the Teer Quarry to access some of the water
Approximately 600 MG (40% full)
Additional 25 to 30 days of water
Department of
Water Management

15. Teer Quarry – Long term Feasibility Study - completed October 2003
Preliminary Engineering Contract 
Started March 2005
Report Completed in Nov. 2005
Draft Environmental Assessment submitted to state in Sept. 2006
Received comments – December 2006
Resubmitted – February 2007
Received comments – July 2007
Anticipated re-submittal – November 2007
Funding for Engineering Design in current year
Construction 2009, online 2010
Department of
Water Management

16. Additional Long Term Supply
Construct intake on Jordan Lake to access current 10 MGD allocation (partnerships?)
Construct additional treatment plant in close proximity to Jordan Lake (partnerships)
Additional allocation from Jordan Lake
Expansion of Lake Michie (24 MGD)
Department of
Water Management

17. Next Steps?
Stage V. Stringent Mandatory Conservation. Customers shall be encouraged to observe the conservation measures in Stages I and II and required to continue observing the mandatory requirements in Stages III and IV. The level of the conservation effort shall increase to require the following additional mandatory measures. No person shall:
Use water outside a structure except in an emergency involving fire.
Operate evaporative air conditioning units which recycle water except during the operating hours of the business.
Use any swimming pool or wading pool.
Wash any motor vehicle, including commercial washing unless a private well is used.
In addition to the conservation measures enumerated above, customer shall use plates, glasses, cups and eating utensils that are disposable and biodegradable.
Department of
Water Management

18. Questions
Department of
Water Management