2001-10-15 Water & Sewer WS
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 15, 2001 PAGE 678
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County Water and Sewer District
held a Work Session on Monday, October 15, 2001, at 3:00 P.M. in the Assembly Room of the New
Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman Nancy H. Pritchett;
District Commissioner Julia Boseman; District Commissioner William A. Caster; District
Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.; County Manager, Allen O’Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley;
and Clerk to the District Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
Chairman Greer called the meeting to order and stated that the purpose of the Work Session
was to hear a report on the study performed by W.K. Dickson regarding the construction of a water
treatment plant in the northern part of the County. He turned the meeting over to Mr. Dan Dawson
to present the report.
REPORT ON WATER FIELD AND WATER TREATMENT FACILITY STUDY
Mr. Dan Dawson advised that W. K. Dickson had worked with the firm of Arcadis Geraghty
& Miller in preparing the study. The following power point presentation was shown on the concept,
design, and pre-design of the well field and water treatment plant.
Project Objective:
The objective is to develop a dependable source of high quality water, meet
current and future needs, and prepare for expansion as the County continues to grow.
Project Background:
In the early 1970s, the U. S. Geological Survey did a detailed groundwater
study and published a report that is still being used. In the 1980s, Dave Weaver prepared a study on
developing groundwater. In 1996, there was a groundwater study prepared by Ed Andrews to
determine the most suitable areas of the County to develop groundwater. At that time the City and
County had established a Groundwater Task Force that determined the northeastern part of the
County to be the most suitable for developing a water supply with a high quality of water that could
be used in conjunction with surface water systems.
Project Tasks:
•Prepare preliminary layout of the well field
•Recommend raw water main sizes and routes
•Evaluate potential treatment processes
•Prepare concept design of the proposed treatment system
•Conduct preliminary scoping meetings with regulatory agencies
•Evaluate options for concentrate disposal
•Conduct limited feasibility analysis of aquifer storage and recovery wells
•Recommend finished water main sizes and routes
•Prepare a final concept design report
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 15, 2001 PAGE 679
Existing Demands and Facilities:
Water Consumption
•Approximately 7,440 metered customers
•Mostly single-family residences
•Approximate bi-monthly demand per home is 12,000 gallons
•Approximate monthly demand per home 6,000 gallons
•
Bi-Monthly Costs per Residence (Estimated)
•Average Usage Bill$21.75
•Softening Expenses$20.00
•Total Cost$41.75
•The average cost per home is $21.00
•The average cost per 1,000 gallon is $3.50
The following information was presented on published City billing rates:
Bi-Monthly
•Inside City Rate$27.50
•Outside City Rate$58.00
Monthly
•Inside City Rate$13.75
•Outside City Rate$29.00
Average Cost per 1,000 Gallons
•Inside City Rate$ 2.29
•Outside City Rate$ 4.83
The County is managing six existing water systems in Wrightsboro-Castle Hayne, NorthChase,
Murrayville Road, Marsh Oaks-Brickstone on both sides of Market Street, Prince George Estates and
Kings Grant. Wrightsboro, NorthChase, Murrayville and Marsh Oaks are all interconnected at this
time. Prince George Estates is separate, but it will be connected in the near future. Kings Grant is
separate from the other systems because the elevation of the water tank is not compatible with other
water systems at this time. The Wrightsboro Water System is consuming what it is producing. The
NorthChase Water System produces 29,000 gallons per day but is consuming over 300,000 gallons
per day from interconnections with Murrayville and the Bayshore area. The Murrayville Water
System is about even, and the Marsh Oaks-Brickstone Water System produces an excess of 375,000
gallons per day. The County is producing about 1.76 to 1.8 million gallons of water per day,
consuming about 1.6 million gallons per day.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 15, 2001 PAGE 680
Immediate demands for connections are the Cape Fear Community College North Campus, the new
Jail Facility, and the Division Headquarters Office for the NCDOT in Castle Hayne. There is
potential demand for the Porters Neck area, Figure Eight Island and Sharon Hills near the NCDOT
facility. These connections represent an increase in use from 1.6 million gallons per day to 2.4 million
gallons per day within the next 18 months.
Projected Demands:
The Planning Department has estimated that by the year 2020, approximately
7,500 new homes will be connected to the water system. This will create a total of 15,000 customers
in the northern part of the County. If the immediate demand is added to the existing demand plus
future demand, the total demand will be 3.9 million gallons per day for the 20 year build-out. In order
to meet this demand, 16 wells producing about 250,000 gallons per day will be required as well as
a 4 million gallon per day water treatment plant.
Proposed Facilities:
An area between Highway 17 and the new Northern By-Pass was defined as
having the most suitable groundwater. A well field study was performed and it was determined that
a reasonable yield for a well would be 350 gallons per minute per well for an average daily flow of
250,000 gallons. The wells will need to be installed approximately 1,000 feet apart. This will allow
for careful monitoring of the withdrawal rate so the aquifer can be protected. The location of the
wells is important because these wells will be used to provide raw water to the planned water
treatment plant.
Several types of water treatment plants were studied and narrowed down to two: (1) a conventional
plant; and (2) a membrane treatment plant. Both plants would cost $9.7 million. The membrane
treatment plant was selected based on economics, ease of operation, flexibility and the high quality
of water this process produces. Other facilities reviewed were distribution and storage requirements
with the primary focus on trunk mains to get the water produced at the plant and delivered to the
system for consumer use. An elevated tank is an enhancement needed, and one is being built at the
new Jail. A pumping facility is a potential need at the NorthChase water tank, and some distribution
mains need to be upgraded to provide a better distribution of water across the system.
Estimated Cost:
The following figures were presented:
•Wells$ 3,279,000
•Raw Water Transmission Mains 1,501,000
•Water Treatment Plant 9,654,000
•Finished Water Transmission Mains 483,000
Total Cost for 4 Million MGD Plant$14,917,000
Operation and Maintenance Costs:
•Annual Wells and Water Treatment Plant Costs$874,000
•Cost per 1,000 Gallons$ 1.20
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 15, 2001 PAGE 681
•Distribution System O&M Cost per 1,000 gallons$ 0.45
•Total Operation and Maintenance Cost per 1,000$ 1.65
Total Costs:
•Construction & Interest per 1,000 gallons$ 1.83
•Operation & Maintenance per 1,000 gallons$ 1.65
•Total Cost per 1,000 gallons$ 3.48
•Average Residence Monthly Consumption in Gallons 6,000
•Average Cost per Residence$ 20.80
In concluding the presentation, Mr. Dawson presented charts of county and municipal water
systems showing the average monthly cost based on usage of 6,000 gallons per month. He then
turned the meeting over to Finance Director Bruce Shell to discuss the financial aspects of the
project.
Finance Director Shell presented a spreadsheet showing two different funding scenarios : (1)
construction of a 4 million gallon daily water treatment plant over a period of eight years; and (2)
construction of a 4 million gallon daily water treatment plant in Phases I and II over a period of 10
years. If a rate is set at $3.75 (which is comparable to other counties) in the eighth year, the system
will break even and then begin to accumulate some retained earnings to handle future capital costs.
The rate will also allow the District to float some of the loss in the beginning of the operation.
Discussion was held on the amount of revenue generated from adding a penny to the $3.75
rate. County Manager O’Neal advised that one penny would probably generate revenue in the
amount of $54,000.
Chairman Greer advised that Staff was waiting for a decision from the District Board to
decide where to go from this point. In the past, companies have approached Staff about designing,
building, and operating a water treatment facility for the District. The Board may want to pursue this
matter and direct Staff to have these companies provide information on the cost of this service. If
the information received is not acceptable, the District will then have to decide if an additional $15
million in debt can be incurred when the District is involved with the City in upgrading the Northside
Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Finance Director Shell advised that the District’s debt had increased; however, if the water
treatment plant is a priority, the project can be financed.
Discussion followed on the 1.6 million gallon water tower for the new Jail. Chairman Greer
asked if there was enough water capacity in the existing wells to fill the Jail tower.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTBOOK 2
WORK SESSION, OCTOBER 15, 2001 PAGE 682
County Engineer Blanchard responded there was not sufficient capacity to meet the needs of
the Jail.
Commissioner Boseman asked if the cost of an additional well had been included in the total
cost of the new Jail.
County Engineer Blanchard responded that he was not sure if the actual cost of the well was
included.
Vice-Chairman Pritchett stressed the importance of having more information on the wells and
she suggested placing this item on the next agenda.
After discussion, the District Board requested Staff to place additional information regarding
the wells on the agenda for the November 19, 2001, meeting and to move forward with obtaining
information from companies interested in designing, building, and operating a water treatment plant
for the District. Once this information is received, a report should be forwarded to the District Board.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Greer called for a motion to adjourn.
Motion:
District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District Commissioner Boseman
to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Greer adjourned the meeting at 4:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board