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Staff outlines Jordan Lake intake project, interlocal partners and phased contract approach
Summary
City staff briefed council on a multi-phase Jordan Lake intake project that allocates storage percentages among partners, involves multiple contract amendments and anticipates additional partners buying capacity; staff said the current work funds preconstruction, permitting and intake design and that construction will require a later amendment.
City staff provided a technical briefing on the Jordan Lake intake and raw-water transmission project, describing partner shares, contract phases and the expected benefits to Durhamand neighboring jurisdictions.
Seed Miller, assistant director in the citywater/aqueous utilities department, explained that Jordan Lake is a multipurpose federal reservoir operated under a contract involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state. The state then assigns storage capacity to local governments; Durham currently holds an allocation expected to average 16.5 million gallons per day. Staff described partner shares for the planned intake and transmission system: the county (referred to in the presentation) and other regional partners have portions of the allocated storage (examples mentioned included a partner with roughly 13% and another with 8%).
The nut graf: staff said the current council action under discussion was a fourth amendment to an existing professional-services contract that advances the project from preconstruction to phase 2; in theory a fifth amendment would cover the Phase 3 construction contract. Staff emphasized the project is built and paid for incrementally with partner contributions; early stages require the city to advance design, permitting and early engineering work with the expectation that partner buy-ins will offset upfront costs.
Council members asked for context about cost drivers and interjurisdictional governance. Staff said allied partners lengthen the coordination and permit processes but also reduce long-term cost share because partners that later purchase capacity will reimburse portions of the upfront investment. Staff also noted the project fits a long-term water-supply strategy that aims to serve Durham through midcentury and beyond.
Staff explained there are four components of the larger program: governance and partner agreements, environmental permitting, engineering and design and construction. The current amendment advances engineering and permitting work and is expected to be followed by a final construction agreement when design is complete and funding commitments are confirmed.
Councilmembers emphasized the importance of partner coordination and asked staff to provide a table of partner shares and the timeline of upcoming amendments. Staff offered to follow up with a written table and further breakdowns by email and in subsequent memos.
No formal council vote on construction funding occurred during the work session; the briefing was informational and intended to provide context for future agenda items tied to professional-services amendments and construction funding.
