SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 ISSUE
Town of Boone Update On Proposed Water Intake Facility
The word “review” sums up the most recent activities related to the Town of Boone’s proposed water intake facility. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to review the Preliminary Environmental Review document, and its changes and questions will affect the environmental document, which will go out for public comment once USDA’s review is complete and updates are made.
The town has also been thoroughly reviewing its water use data. A PowerPoint presentation had explained that when a water system reaches 80 percent of capacity, the N.C. Department of Environment & Natural Resources recommends a plan for expansion and that when the system reaches 90 percent of capacity, the state recommends the expansion be under construction.
If not underway, the state could stop new water hookups for homes and businesses.
The piece also said that Boone went over the 80 percent mark in 2006 and is projected to hit the 90 percent mark in 2009.
“That information was based on a study conducted in 2004,” said Greg Young, Boone town manager. “Based on engineering and historical data up to that point, Boone was projected to exceed the 80 percent mark in 2006 and was projected to hit the 90 percent mark in 2009. When we went back to the actual data, we found that on individual days in 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2007, Boone exceeded the 2.4 million gallons maximum daily demand threshold,” he continued. “In October 2006, Boone came very close to that threshold at 2.339 million gallons maximum daily demand.” The PowerPoint presentation inadvertently substituted a projected use figure for 2006 for the actual use data for that period.
Young pointed out that municipalities have a responsibility to plan for the future before reaching state-mandated levels. Although the state calls for the 2.4 million gallons maximum daily demand to be hit on five consecutive days before instituting planning for water plant expansion, Young said Boone has been around the 80 percent mark for quite some time and has implemented measures, such as water allocations for new hookups, a water conservation rate designed so those who use more will pay more and water conservation education, to lower the demand for water. “The bottom line is that Boone still needs an additional water supply in order to meet the future demands of this municipality,” said Young.
In regard to the 2009 projections, actual numbers for the year remain to be seen. Following January’s use, which had a peak use day of 2.545 million gallons maximum daily demand, the numbers have dropped. Young attributes this to water conservation measures, peak shaving measures implemented at the water treatment plant, the passing of ordinance 05-01 concerning the provision of water service to new customers, the water conservation rate and recent economic conditions.
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