CHAPEL HILL – In the past couple years our community-owned water treatment facility, OWASA, has received several awards and kept water rates the same.

Some of those awards include the Platinum Award for Utility Excellence from the Association of Metropolitan Water and the “Excellence in Water Treatment” award from the Partnership for Safe Water. “(And) one of our most recent operational awards is the Partnership for Safe Water’s Distribution System Directors Award for systems who optimize their drinking water system,” says Mary Darr, OWASA’s director of engineering and planning.

And as OWASA receives awards for their drinking water and utility systems, staff continues to work on improving efficiency. “OWASA has for many years had a philosophy of continuous improvement which means that we are constantly trying to see ways to provide a higher quality service, a more reliable service, and a more efficient service” says OWASA public affairs representative Greg Feller.

That philosophy has enabled OWASA to keep water rates the same for the past two years.

“Some of the things we have done in recent years for efficiency is reducing the work force,” Feller says. “We have about 12 percent fewer employees now than we had in 2004.” (As employees left the company, OWASA evaluated the vacant positions and consolidated work to avoid the need to hire new personnel.)

Feller says OWASA’s newest project is focused in improving efficiency at the Mason Farm Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“There is now a project underway (there) that will increase the energy efficiency of the biological treatment process, and we expect that’s going to involve a 20 percent reduction in electricity use,” he says.

For more information you can click here.

Related Stories
‹
More than 38,000 Gallons of Untreated Sewage Spills into Unnamed Hillsborough Creek
The Town of Hillsborough responded to a discharge of untreated sewage into an unnamed creek Monday morning. The spill, which the town estimated at 38,400 gallons, is believed to have begun Saturday and has since been stopped. According to a town release, the spill began due to a fence post stuck in an eight-inch sewer […]
2,300 Gallons of Wastewater Overflow in Chapel Hill
About 2,300 gallons of untreated wastewater overflowed on Eastowne Drive on Wednesday, according to Orange Water and Sewer Authority. OWASA officials say crews responded to the overflow near Providence Road and found the wastewater coming from a sewer on Eastowne. The overflow occurred because a contractor damaged the sewer, according to OWASA. The spill occurred […]
Wastewater Overflow near Fordham Boulevard
The Orange Water and Sewer Authority responded to a spill of untreated wastewater on Thursday near Fordham Boulevard and Erwin Road in an area that drains to Booker Creek. The wastewater spill of about 1,875 gallons occurred because of a sewer build-up and blockage caused by debris. The NC Division of Water Resources is reviewing […]
OWASA's Rosemary Street Project Shifts To New Intersection, Nears Halfway Point
OWASA provided an update on its on-going W. Rosemary Street water main replacement process, which it said is nearing the halfway point.
Wastewater Overflow Releases 5,400 Gallons into Chapel Hill Tributary, OWASA Says
The Orange Water and Sewer Authority responded to a wastewater overflow at 4302 Drew Hill Lane in Chapel Hill Thursday afternoon. OWASA first arrived at the scene, located near Eastowne Drive, at 2:12 p.m. and stopped it within 36 minutes of the initial report, according to a release. OWASA says the sanitary sewer overflow released […]
OWASA Sets Date for Full Closure of W. Rosemary Street. Here's What You Need to Know
As part of an extensive water main replacement by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority, part of West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill is set to close to all traffic in the coming weeks.
Water Main Break Causes Emergency Repairs, Lane Closures on E. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill
Part of East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill was shut down Friday morning as crews respond to a leaking water main that spilled water onto the road.
W. Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill Closed Amid Water Main Break
An alert shared by the Chapel Hill Police Department warned community members of a water main break along West Rosemary Street at 7:53 a.m.
OWASA Receives Nearly $2 Million in PFAS Treatment Settlement
The Orange Water and Sewer Authority announced Thursday it has received $1.96 million for PFAS treatment as part of a settlement with the company 3M, a major manufacturer of PFAS. According to OWASA, the funds will be used to offset the cost of treatment to reduce PFAS in the community’s drinking water. PFAS is an […]
OWASA's Extensive West Rosemary Street Project Begins on Nov. 3. Here Are The Details
OWASA plans to begin its construction Monday, Oct. 20 to replace a water main on Rosemary Street in downtown Chapel Hill.
›