FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mike McGill
(910) 332-6704
After Hours: (910) 622-8472
Mike.McGill@cfpua.org
communications@cfpua.org
WILMINGTON, NC, October 9, 2013: Earlier today, the Board of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) approved a joint proposal crafted by staff from CFPUA and Duke Energy Progress to construct a water line connecting Flemington-area residents and businesses close to Duke Energy’s Sutton Plant to CFPUA’s main drinking water system. Discussions held over the past months led to the joint proposal, which also includes the construction of two additional monitoring wells in the area to track potential water quality issues as construction of the water line takes place. The total cost of the project is estimated to be up to $2.25 million dollars. All of the costs will be contributed by Duke Energy or allocated from existing CFPUA funds in its water emergency repair and water developer agreement projects. The Board approved the agreement with one condition; that CFPUA negotiate with Duke Energy a provision in the current proposal that states the Authority will not install or utilize wells in the area in the future.
It is important to note there is no current health risk to CFPUA’s customers in the Flemington area; monitoring data continues to show the wells in the Flemington area remain in compliance with state drinking water regulations. However, Duke Energy’s long-standing monitoring program has shown groundwater within their ash impoundment compliance boundary had elevated levels of certain constituents. Based on the data and guidance from CFPUA’s own groundwater experts, CFPUA contacted Duke Energy with its concerns about the potential for future quality issues with the groundwater supply. The dialogue that followed resulted in the preventative short and long-term measures approved today by CFPUA’s board.
“Nothing is more important to Cape Fear Public Utility Authority than providing safe and reliable drinking water to our customers. We appreciate Duke’s recognition of the issues at hand and their willingness to come together to achieve both short and long-term solutions,” said Jim Flechtner, CFPUA’s Interim Executive Director. “As a result, today our Board was able to ensure that current residents, and any new customers, who live or work in the Flemington area will continue to receive high-quality drinking water for decades to come.”
Under the agreement:
• Duke Energy would fund the first $1.5 million of the project’s costs. Duke Energy and CFPUA would then equally share additional costs up to a total of $2.25 million. This amount is the estimated cost to build a connecting 8-inch line.
• CFPUA’s master plan shows a larger line serving the corridor, which would open the area to greater economic development. CFPUA will play 100% of the cost of upsizing the line to 12-inches, estimated at $85,000.
• The new water line is estimated to take just over two years to design and construct.
• CFPUA will manage and design the project. It will be reimbursed by Duke Energy for its share of project-related expenses.
• Duke Energy will continue providing assistance with the construction of the two new monitoring wells between the Sutton Plant and the Flemington area.
• The construction cost of the wells would be equally shared by Duke Energy and CFPUA. The estimated cost to the Authority is $12,000.
“It is essential for a water utility’s customers to be secure in the knowledge that their drinking water is safe,” said Jim Quinn, CFPUA Board Chairman. “The Board fully supports this effort and we thank Duke Energy for being a good citizen by working with us to address future water quality issues before they may occur. At the same time, this project will enable us to make significant improvements to our service in the area and ready it for future development.”
“Duke Energy is dedicated to protecting public health, and the agreement approved today is another example of that commitment,” said John Elliott, East Region Director of Government and Community Relations for Duke Energy. “Both Duke Energy and CFPUA recognized there was no benefit in delaying these proactive, preventative steps and we look forward to working with them over the course of this important project.”
With the agreement approved, CFPUA will move immediately begin implementing the short and long-term solutions. Work will begin this fall on construction of the additional monitoring wells and CFPUA will begin the process to advertise for an engineering consultant with the goal of initiating a fast-track design for the project this calendar year.
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Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) was formed by the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County to combine their water and sewer operations. It began operations on July 1, 2008. Today, the Authority serves more than 65,000 water customer accounts and more than 63,000 wastewater customer accounts. It oversees more than 1,000 miles of water distribution mains and nearly 1,000 miles of sewer mains. For more information, visit www.cfpua.org or contact CFPUA’s Communications staff at communications@cfpua.org.