Title
Vote on a request to approve Amendment #1 to previously approved Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Creating and Defining Operations and Cost Sharing of the Western Intake Partnership and approve Dan LaMontagne, County Manager, to sign the MOA amendment on behalf of the County
Abstract
Action Requested: Vote on request to approve Amendment #1 to the previously approved MOA that created and defined operations of the Western Intake Partnership and approve Dan LaMontagne, County Manager, to sign the MOA amendment on behalf of the County.
Introduction & Background: Chatham County along with the Town of Pittsboro, City of Durham and Orange Water and Sewer Authority who were all founding members of the Jordan Lake Partnership (JLP) have been working cooperatively since 2012 as the Western Intake Partnership (WIP) to plan for the construction of facilities on the western side of Jordan Lake to obtain access to our respective Jordan Lake Allocations.
The Jordan Lake Partnership Western Intake Feasibility Study (known as the Hazen Study) assisted the WIP in determining that the most favorable alternative to meet the water supply needs of the individual members as well as the group as a whole is a Regional Water Treatment Facility (“RWTF”) on the west side of Jordan Lake. The Hazen Study estimated that once the RWTF project is initiated, it will take approximately 8 years for the work from preliminary engineering to construction to be completed - all assuming no major delays. Since environmental review and environmental permitting might take 10 years or more; if this effort were to begin now the Hazen Study schedule projects that the RWTF and the associated system connections could be online around mid-2035. The Jordan Lake Western Intake Partners Economic Feasibility Study (known as the Raftelis Study) assessed the collective benefits of the treatment plant and the individual impacts to each Partner and suggested an optimal timeline for undertaking the RWTF Project. This work included, 1) Develop a plan to begin construction by 2025 so the RWTF can be online by 2031, and 2) Adopt a collaborative approach to RWTF Project governance, including its financing, ownership, and management.
This Memorandum of Agreement outlines the parties pledge to work together as the WIP to begin the work recommended in the Raftelis Study - preliminary field evaluations and permitting work as well as the work on the governance approach. The MOA also outlines the cost sharing that will be applied within the Partnership. Amendment #1 will add a Program Management component to the total project cost and scope due to the complexities and size of the project. The County’s cost share for the projects we participate in is proportionate to the Jordan Lake Allocation that Chatham County holds.
Discussion & Analysis: This Partnership will provide benefits of planning and collaborative efforts to include:
• Improved cooperation between local water utilities and ease of regulatory oversight;
• Reduced unit costs for RWTF through economies of scale;
• Increased flexibility and reliability of local water supplies, especially during droughts and other dynamic events;
• Enhanced ability to comply with federal and state drinking water standards;
• Sustainable use of regional drinking water resources; and
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: Natural Resources, Resiliency and Utilities/Public Services
Budgetary Impact: Budgeted as part of the CIP
Recommendation: Approve Amendment #1 of the MOA and approve Dan LaMontagne, County Manager, to sign the amendment on behalf of the County.