The Burlington City Council on Tuesday adopted a Special Resolution establishing regulations and rules to protect water quality in Jordan Lake. The resolution allows the City and neighboring cities to raise points of contention and state their views on the matter. The state has estimated that it could cost $100 million basin-wide. Expenses for the City could be in excess of $50 million. Steve Shoaf, Utilities Director told the Council that the state was identifying this problem as a catastrophe. Shoaf does not feel that their decision is based on good science. Only three sets of samples have been taken in the last three years. The City as well as other local municipalities affected by the mandate offers interim actions and an explanation of what each will do.
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SPECIAL RESOLUTION
Resolution of Water Quality Management Strategy
Upper Cape Fear River Basin: Haw River Watershed
WHEREAS, the (City/County) of ________________________ recognizes that a safe potable water supply and good water quality are important resources for the continued prosperity of our State and for the protection of the public health; and
WHEREAS, the water quality of the Upper New Hope arm of Jordan Lake is impaired, but the Haw River arm is not impaired on an annual basis; and
WHEREAS, NCDENR is tasked with developing a nutrient management strategy for the Jordan Lake watershed; and
WHEREAS, there are concerns about the quantity and quality of the data collected and used to develop the NCDENR nutrient management strategy; and
WHEREAS, there are concerns about the ability of the computer model to predict future water quality in Jordan Lake; and
WHEREAS, sixty eight percent (68%) of nitrogen loading to Jordan lake comes from non-point sources and thirty two percent (32%) is from point sources; and
WHEREAS, eighty four percent (84%) of phosphorus loading to Jordan Lake comes from non-point sources and sixteen percent (16%) comes from point sources; and
WHEREAS, agriculture is the primary contributor of both nitrogen and phosphorus and contributes more than the sum contribution of all point sources; and
WHEREAS, the Phase II NPDES stormwater programs have not been implemented and their impact on water quality is unknown; and
WHEREAS, wastewater treatment plant modifications to meet the proposed NCDENR allocation limits for nitrogen and phosphorus will be very expensive and may not have an impact on water quality in Jordan Lake; and
WHEREAS, the allocation limits proposed by NCDENR will impose severe limitations on growth and development in the area in question;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INVOLVED AGREE:
· To cooperate with the State in the collection of additional data and provide oversight to assure that the data is properly collected and analyzed; and
· To cooperate with the State and use the new data to recalibrate the predictive model and develop new target allocations for nitrogen and phosphorus; and
· To investigate and implement optimization measures at existing wastewater treatment plants to provide some improvement in treatment plant effluent quality; and
· To seek funding sources to allow compliance with NCDENR nitrogen and phosphorus allocation limits; and
· To comply with NCDENR nitrogen and phosphorus allocation targets by the year 2016.
Approved: ______________________________
_________________________
Stephen M. Ross, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________
Jondeen D. Terry,
City Clerk