This month on “Wonderful Water” join 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck for a conversation with Denise Battle, OWASA’s customer service manager, about the second annual Care to Share Day — happening on November 19 — and the opportunities the day provides to help those in our community who need it.

“OWASA has been preparing for Care to Share Day for a little while,” said Battle. “Now, we look forward to trying to help so many who are in need in this really serious time … and our team has been working with customers, directing those who are behind on their bills to various funding sources as they become available – and Care to Share has been a key aspect of that funding.”

“Care to Share” is OWASA’s bill assistance program to help customers who are struggling to pay their water bills, and since OWASA temporarily suspended disconnects for non-payment in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has reported a “dramatic increase” in the number of customers who are past due on their water bills.

“… Imagine a day without water,” said Battle. “Can you imagine not having that cup of coffee in the morning, or the shower, or having clean laundry? So it’s that important that we share what we can with our neighbors so that everybody continues to have what they need.”

As part of this year’s Care to Share Day, OWASA is asking the community to get involved in spreading the message on social media. Between now and Giving Tuesday on December 1, OWASA is asking everyone to imagine a day without water, and to post a short video on Facebook or Twitter about what a day without water would mean to them. Participants are also encouraged to tag OWASA and two friends, as well as use the hashtag #CareToShare with a link to the donation page.

You can find out more about Care to Share, and donate directly, by clicking here.

You can listen below for the full conversation between Aaron Keck and Denise Battle below, and visit the Wonderful Water page here for more interviews and stories about the work OWASA does. 


Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents use roughly 7 million gallons of water a day, and “Wonderful Water” is a monthly conversation sponsored by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority highlighting its work to keep our community growing and water flowing.