From July 2018 to June 2019, OWASA treated about 3 billion gallons of wastewater for the Carrboro-Chapel Hill community. OWASA is pleased to share that they met or surpassed all Federal and State standards as highlighted in their annual Wastewater Report Card.
Three hundred fifty miles of underground pipes, nearly 11,000 manholes, system monitoring and wastewater treatment and clarification: the Report Card is a snapshot of OWASA’s wastewater treatment process. OWASA works 24/7 to collect, treat and clean the community’s wastewater, and recycle (or reclaim) it where they can. What cannot be reclaimed is returned to Morgan Creek. The water that is returned to the Creek, which eventually flows into Jordan Lake, has gone through a comprehensive treatment process so it is safe for the environment and for communities to access downstream.
The Wastewater Report Card also includes tips on how community members can help protect the wastewater system. Remember: “flushable wipes” aren’t actually flushable. They, and other culprits like dental floss, sometimes block pipes. Last year, OWASA experienced three wastewater overflow events: due to a pipe blockage, pipe failure and high flows during Hurricane Florence.
The Report Card will be mailed to all OWASA account holders this month and is available for viewing on owasa.org. Community members can also request a printed copy by contacting 919-968-4421 or info@owasa.org.