The Orange Water and Sewer Authority completed the purchase of about 74 acres next to University Lake and Morgan Creek this week.

The purchase will help protect water quality in University Lake, one of the public water sources for Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

The utility acquired the land from the Harold W. Ray Family Trust and the Annie C. Ray Trust for $2.2 million, or about $30,000 per acre. OWASA has applied to the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund for about $1.4 million to help pay for the land.