FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mike McGill
(910) 332-6704
After Hours: (910) 622-8472
Mike.McGill@cfpua.org
communications@cfpua.org
WILMINGTON, NC, January 23, 2014: The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) will hold a public information meeting detailing its agreement with Duke Energy Progress to construct a water line that will connect Flemington-area residents and businesses close to Duke Energy’s Sutton Plant to CFPUA’s main drinking water system. The meeting will take place on February 4, 2014, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the U.S.S North Carolina Battleship Museum. Invitation letters were sent to each identifiable home and business served by CFPUA’s Flemington wells during the week of January 14, 2014.
During the February meeting, representatives from CFPUA will detail the agreement, what it means for residents and businesses in the area, and address questions or concerns from the community. In addition to constructing a water line from CFPUA’s Sweeney Treatment Plant to the area, the agreement called for the construction of two additional monitoring wells to track potential water quality issues as construction takes place. The total cost of the project is estimated to be up to $2.25 million. 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.
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 federal and 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 last summer with its concerns about the potential for future quality issues with the groundwater supply, and the company proactively offered to extend the water line.
Under the agreement:
• Duke Energy is funding 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, and design work is under way.
• CFPUA will manage and design the project. It will be reimbursed by Duke Energy for its share of project-related expenses.
• Duke Energy is providing monitoring assistance through the construction of the two new monitoring wells between the Sutton Plant and the Flemington area. These wells already have been installed.
For more information about the public meeting or the joint agreement, please contact Mike McGill at 332-6704 or communications@cfpua.org.
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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.