2007-06-18 Water & Sewer
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 3
REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 18, 2007 PAGE 231
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District met in
Regular Session on Monday, June 18, 2007, at 10:25 a.m. in the Human Resources Training Center, New Hanover
County Government Center, 230 Government Center Drive, Suite 135, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: District Chairman William A. Kopp, Jr.; District Vice-Chairman Robert G. Greer;
District Commissioner William A. Caster; District Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.; District Commissioner Nancy H.
Pritchett; County Attorney Wanda M. Copley; Clerk to the District Board Sheila L. Schult and County Manager
Bruce T. Shell.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
District Chairman Kopp announced that time had been reserved for anyone from the public to present an
item that was not listed on the Regular Agenda. He requested all persons to limit their remarks to three minutes.
No items were presented.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
District Chairman Kopp called for a motion to approve the minutes of the Water and Sewer District
Regular Meeting held on June 4, 2007, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board.
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Pritchett, to approve the
minutes of the Water and Sewer District Regular Meeting held on June 4, 2007, as presented by the Clerk to the
District Board. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADOPTION OF FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008 BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR THE NEW HANOVER
COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT
County Manager Bruce Shell presented the FY 2007-2008 Budget Ordinance for the New Hanover County
Water and Sewer District in the amount of $20,136,368 with the following appropriations.
Revenue Source Amount
Charges for Service $15,581,000
Operating Transfer/One-Half Cent Sales Taxes (Art 40 & 42) 2,873,608
Interest on Investments 611,000
Miscellaneous Revenue 915,000
Special Assessments 155,760
Total Revenues ? Water and Sewer District Fund $20,136,368
County Engineer Greg Thompson reported that amendments to the fee schedule for Water and Sewer are
necessary to meet increased demand on the system as a whole. The proposed adjustments for new construction are
as follows:
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Water Impact Fee increase in the amount of $2,000
?
Sewer Impact Fee increase in the amount of $2,500
?
Adjust existing Development Fee District-wide to $1.50 per gallon
County Engineer Thompson reported that the Homebuilders Association has endorsed the proposed fees
and that the County?s proposed increase is in-line with the City of Wilmington?s proposed increases.
After a question and answer period and hearing no further discussion, District Chairman Kopp asked for
direction from the Board.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 3
REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 18, 2007 PAGE 232
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Vice-Chairman Greer, to adopt the
Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Budget Ordinance for the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District as presented.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
A copy of the Budget Ordinance is hereby incorporated as a part of the minutes and is contained in the
Water and Sewer Exhibit Book III, Page 14.1.
BREAK
District Chairman Kopp called for a break at 10:47 a.m. until 10:55 a.m.
ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE FOR BUDGET AMENDMENT 2007-104
County Manager Bruce Shell reported that the District Board is requested to adopt budget ordinance
amendment 2007-104 to appropriate fund balasnce in Fund 800 to transfer to the Brookfield/Brierwood project and
the Wellfield/Treatment Plant project for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007.
Motion:
District Commissioner Pritchett MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Caster, to adopt budget
ordinance amendment 2007-104. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
A copy of the budget ordinance amendment is hereby incorporated as part of the minutes and is contained
in Water and Sewer Exhibit Book III, Page14.2.
ADDITIONAL ITEM
PRESENTATION ON MANDATORY STAGE 2 WATER CONSERVATION DECLARATION
County Engineer Greg Thompson and Chief Project Engineer David Hollis presented an overview of the
Mandatory Stage 2 Water Conservation Declaration highlighting the following:
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Rainfall is currently in a deficit of 9.39 inches for the year
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Bi-monthly demand has exceeded design by 65%
?
Restrictions include anyone in the County that receives a water bill from New Hanover County
Water and Sewer District
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Restrictions are working to decrease demand but need to be maintained
?
Recently completed projects have improved the water system
?
Projects currently under construction will help to improve the water system
Staff recommends the following:
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Water System Master Plan to establish County Standards/Ordinances for usage, demand and
service; additional system evaluation and planning
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SCADA improvements for monitoring water system use ? allow for irrigation ordinance and
revise conservation ordinance to include additional stages
?
Implement multi-tier increasing rate structure ? encourage conservation of limited resource; high
use will provide increased revenue for system improvements to offset demand
?
Increase public education programs and encourage Xeriscape Landscaping
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Encourage the use of private irrigation wells
?
Investigate water reuse strategies from the water treatment plant
?
Follow Cary, North Carolina Operational Practices or similar restrictions
District Commissioner Pritchett suggested staff work closely with the Soil and Water Conservation District
in helping to educate the public on conservation issues.
District Chairman Kopp stated that capacity has not kept up with growth demands.
Engineer Hollis reported that it is difficult to design for the demand.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 3
REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 18, 2007 PAGE 233
District Vice-Chairman Greer stated that over a year ago he voiced concern about the adequacy of the water
supply and development in the northeast portion of the County but was assured that there was not a problem. The
County worked out an agreement with Mr. Moore to buy his water and then the District discontinued the use of the
well because the water was not needed. The water restrictions are hurting people with new homes and new
landscaping and lawns making the County appear irresponsible. He requested the Board approve an alternative plan
today and suggested allowing people to water every other day according to their house number (even and odd)
between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m.
Engineer Hollis reported that any new development that comes into the County is required to install a well
to off-set the demand that they are going to create on the system. The well will be connected to the County system.
Mr. Moore?s well had poor water quality and the chemistry was not the same as what is in the County?s water
system.
District Vice-Chairman Greer stated Mr. Moore?s well did not have poor water quality.
Engineer Hollis reported that staff is working on ways to educate the public and until the public is educated
on how to conserve water the mandatory restriction needs to stay in place.
District Vice-Chairman Greer stated that educating the public on conservation efforts should have started a
year ago when he was asking staff if there was adequate water in the northeast portion of the County and was
assured that there was. He suggested coming up with an alternative plan to the mandatory restriction and monitor it
until the next Board meeting.
County Engineer Thompson stated that he recommends keeping the mandatory restrictions in place at this
time.
Motion:
District Vice-Chairman Greer MOVED to adopt an alternative plan and allow people to water every other
day according to their house number (even and odd) between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. NO SECOND WAS
RECEIVED.
Assistant County Manager Dave Weaver reported that water production capacity has not decreased but the
demand is over the capacity. The City of Wilmington has also implemented mandatory water restrictions on
irrigation.
County Engineer reported that the suggested plan does not allow the system time to recover. The system is
not designed to support irrigation.
District Commissioner Pritchett suggested conserving water by hand watering specific sites and not
allowing wasteful run-off.
District Chairman Kopp acknowledged that there is a problem and that capacity has not been dealt with and
drought conditions have added to the problem. He requested County Engineer Thompson to clarify how the wells
from new developments will be brought on-line with the water treatment plant.
County Engineer Thompson stated that the newer wells will be abandoned if they cannot be incorporated
into the County system.
District Chairman Kopp stated that he did not think this is a viable solution.
District Commissioner Davis voiced concern for the County having enough water and water pressure in
case of fires.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOOK 3
REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 18, 2007 PAGE 234
County Engineer Thompson reported that system pressure and flow is directly related to demand but
capacity can be reserved for emergency uses such as fires but excess demand could make that difficult. Many of the
District?s current projects will help move water around, but today the District is limited in the ability to move water
around in the system. The system is tied together, but in some places it is tied together with one pipe.
After discussion concerning the difficulty in enforcing the proposed plan and the success of the current
restrictions, the consensus of the Board is to direct staff to continue monitoring the situation and work on drafting an
alternative water conservation plan for the Board?s consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no further business, District Chairman Kopp adjourned the meeting at 11:49 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sheila L. Schult
Clerk to the District Board