The town of Boone’s water committee reviewed average monthly allocations during a special meeting on Nov. 24, looking at incentives that would lead to more water conservation in the event of drought or other supply constraints.

The town’s water usage for October was down nearly to 2005 levels for the same month, with 57 million gallons treated. October is typically the peak usage month for the year, with a record 67 million gallons per day (gpd) used in October 2006.

Rick Miller, water-and-sewer director for the town, gave a report on water allocations made for newly permitted development. He said predicted amounts for the projects were higher than the actual usage, which he said would free up some possible extra connctions.

The size of toilet tanks could make a difference in the actual water usage versus the predicted amount, Miller said. Laundry-washing habits of students could also make a difference, as well as changes in the amount of water used by existing customers.

Miller said about 16,000 gpd were available due to the differences in allocation and actual usage, since water-usage levels were down this year. “I’m sure conservation has played a part in it, and I think the economy has as well,” Miller said.

He reported that some allocations were going to expire because the projects fell through, which would mean those allocations could be distributed to other projects. Miller said 6,700 gpd of water allocation was available for the remainder of the year, with 11,000 gallons available in 2009 under the town’s long-range water plan. In 2010, the town budgeted 14,000 gpd of new allocations.

Town council member Lynne Mason said a pending interconnection with Appalachian State University could be used to ease peak usage, and customers would want new water connections if they were available.

The ASU agreement would allow Boone to use water from the university’s water system for emergencies and also compensate for use of water by off-campus university facilities. The council voted to allocate an additional 15,000 gpd in both 2009 and 2010, which would allow for new connections.

With the town’s new raw-water intake plant expected to be complete by 2013, Mason said the town council could be in position to ease up control of water connections. The council has been reviewing allocations on a case-by-case basis after approaching the limit of its treatment capacity.

“The flip side is we need new customers because we have to finance the new water intake,” she said.

Miller said water usage was “always going to be a moving number” because some users had gone out of business and the economy would continue to have an effect. The committee members expressed a consensus that the town should continue its focus on conservation and education.

Miller said a subcommittee recommended a surcharge if the town reached certain water-shortage restrictions imposed by the state. The surcharge would provide incentive for customers to conserve water, with water bills potentially increasing 50 percent during a Stage II classification and doubling if reaching a critical Stage III. The subcommittee agreed to review the recommendations and consider the impact on low-income households.

The town plans to draw up to 4 million gallons a day from a water plant on the South Fork of the New River, with the project currently under environmental review. Boone voters approved a $25 million bond referendum on Nov. 4 to help fund the plant and new water lines.