1995-07-17 Water & SewerMINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, JULY 17, 1995
PAGE 242
ASSEMBLY
The District Board of Commissioners of the New Hanover County
Water & Sewer District met in Regular Session on Monday, July 17,
1995, at 10:50 A.M. A.M. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover
County Courthouse, 24 North Third Street, Wilmington, North
Carolina.
Members present were: District Commissioners William A.
Caster; Robert G. Greer; William E. Sisson, Jr.; Vice-Chairman
Sandra Barone; Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr.; County Manager, Allen
O'Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the District
Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
Chairman Mathews called the meeting to order.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Chairman Mathews inquired as to whether anyone from the
general public would like to present an item not listed on the
Regular Agenda.
No items were presented.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: District commissioner Sisson MOVED, SECONDED by District
commissioner Greer to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of
July 5, 1995, as presented by the Clerk to the District Board.
Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
PRESENTATION OF CONCEPT DESIGN REPORT FOR THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY
NORTHSIDE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY
County Engineer, Wyatt Blanchard, introduced Mr. M. Steven
Cavanaugh, Jr., P.E. with Hobbs, Upchurch & Associates, P.A. and
announced he would present an overview on the concept design of the
Northside Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Mr. Cavanaugh presented the following overview:
History: In 1988 the 201 Facilities Plan was updated, which
covered.New Hanover County and the Greater Wilmington area. This
plan set forth provisions for collection extensions, interceptor
extensions, and waste treatment capacity. Rapid growth has
occurred in northern New Hanover County with an application for a
4.0 million gallons per day (mgd) wastewater discharge permit that
New Hanover County possesses for this amount of daily discharge.
Overview: The twenty-year flow as recognized by New Hanover c6'il'nty
is 4.0 mgd. The .treatment limits for that 4.0 mgd level or
tertiary level are at 5 parts per million (ppm) of Biochemical
Oxygen Demand (BOD) and 2 parts per million of ammonia as nitrogen.
~Th~se treatments are very stringent. The start-up flow is
. anticipated between one and two million gallons per day.
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MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, JULY 17, 1995
PAGE 243
Reqionalization Study: A study is being made toward a
regionalization approach because of the close proximity of the new
Northside Wastewater Treatment Facility to the City of Wilmington's
Northside Wastewater Treatment Facility. This provides a potential
for a common discharge pumping station and common shared outfall.
Also, there are common needs such as sludge handling facilities,
tertiary filtration, disinfection, and a discharge outfall.
Another issue is the cost to the City and New Hanover County
through regionalization versus individually. The study should be
completed and delivered to the County Engineering Staff by the end
of the week.
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Environmental Impact: There will be minor adverse environmental
impacts during the construction of the new facility, such as noise,
erosion, and wetland modification. These impacts are considered to
be normal and are controlled through related permits associated
with the construction activity.
The positive environmental impacts are the provision of a
central place to collect and treat the waste, extension of the
sewer to unsewered areas out in the County, and the provision of a
controlled environmental solution for handling any upset at the
Wastewater Treatment Facility.
proposed Sites: At the present time, the following sites are under 0
consideration: (1) the Cameron site; (2) the Filippini site; (3)
the Filippini, south site; (4) the Blake property; (5) the Airport
property; (6) the Northside-Landfill property; (7) the Division.
Drive property; (8) the Timmie Corporation property; and (9) the
Northwest site. No firm site has been selected at this time.
Septaqe/Grease considerations: Dealing with septage and grease is
characterized as one of the most significant problems facing the
County. Under the proposed design, a septage/grease unit can be
handled as a side stream at the new Wastewater Treatment Facility.
This unit will provide for a centralized collection, dewatering,
and disposal of the grease. The septage/grease disposal system can
be performed within the existing cost range at approximately $200
per load. This will provide a system that will allow the existing
haulers and businesses pumping out septic tanks to remain in
business. .
District Commissioner Greer inquired as to how the $200 per
load figure was calculated?
Mr. Cavanaugh responded that currently a septic tank hauler or
grease hauler is charging around $200 per load for pumping out a
typical grease trap or septic tank. If there was a facility in
place to handle septage and grease, the cost to the end user should
be in line with the current fee. The figure in the report is based
upon $40 per load, which is attributed to the cost associated with
each individual hauler having to pay for the treatment facility.
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, JULY 17, 1995
PAGE 244
Therefore, the $200 per load was a starting point to make sure
whatever provisions were designed would be in line so the
individual haulers would not have to pay more and in turn charge
the end user a higher fee.
Preferred Process: The recommended process for the proposed New
Hanover County Wastewater Treatment Plant is extended aeration,
with oxidation ditch reactor basins followed by secondary
clarification, tertiary filtration, and UV disinfection. The
extended aeration process will allow the facility to meet the
effluent limitations NH3-N. Residuals (sludge) handling will be
accomplished with a drying/bulking plant to produce a Class A
sludge facility. Septage and grease will be side-streamed,
pretreated, and the dewatered products will be blended with the
dried sludge or separated for land application.
Implementation Schedule: The following schedule was presented:
Present Concept Design Report
May 8, 1995
May 15, 1995
July 1, 1995
Sept. 15, 1995
Nov. 1, 1995
Nov. 1, 1995
Jan. 1, 1996
March 1, 1996
May 1, 1996
May 15, 1996
Nov. 15, 1997
Jan. 15, 1998
Begin Plans & Specifications
10% In-Progress Meeting
e 50% In-Progress Meeting
100% In-Progress Meeting
Submit Plans & Specifications
Receive Approval of Plans & Specifications
Bid Opening
Award of Contracts
Begin Construction
Complete Construction
Achieve Final Effluent Limitations
In:'summary, the New Hanover County Wastewater Treatment Plant
is anticipated to cost $10,,874,129 excluding land and rights-of-
way. The facility is. anticipated to cost $576,710 in Year 1
operational and maintenance fees. Finally, the facility is
expected to require a minimum of seven operators with the Operator
in Responsible Charge (ORC) maintaining a Grade 4 Operator's
License.
District commissioner Greer inquired as to what facilities
would be constructed with the $10,874,129?
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, JULY 17, 1995
PAGE 245
Mr. Cavenaugh responded this cost would cover construction of
the 4.0 mgd Wastewater Treatment Facility.
District Commissioner Greer inquired as to whether this figure
included the Airport phase of the project?
County Engineer Blanchard responded the Airport phase was in
the future and would be another 4.0 mgd facility.
District Commissioner Greer asked how many years the 4.0 mgd
capacity would last?
County Engineer Blanchard responded the projected estimate is
20 years in the northern part of the County; however, if growth
continues, it could be 15 years before this plant would need to be
expanded.
Discussion was held on the problem with odor. Mr. Cavanaugh
responded most odors come from facilities using older methods of
treatment. The proposed plant will have the latest technology
which will provide for adequate aeration at the treatment units
where the odors are generated.
Vice-Chairman Barone emphatically stated she did not want an
offensive odor at the new plant.
Mr. Cavanaugh responded the odors would be controlled with the
proposed design; however, the engineering firm could not be held
responsible for current odors from the existing wastewater
treatment plant in close proximity.
Chairman Mathews, on behalf of the District Board, expressed
appreciation to Mr. Cavenaugh for a most informative report.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: District Commissioner Caster MOVED, SECONDED by District
Commissioner Sisson to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Mathews adjourned the meeting at 11:45 A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
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Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the District Board
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