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Home My WebLink About1995-07-17 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. ~ 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. o 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, ~~ Lucie F. Harrell Clerk to the District Board o