The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority board on Wednesday moved forward with long-term steps to reduce PFAS in drinking water, OK’d a short-term agreement to provide water to Wrightsville Beach, and reviewed CFPUA’s proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020, which features no rate increase.
Sweeney Water Treatment Plant Upgrades: The board approving a resolution authorizing CFPUA staff complete design and permitting and obtain funding for a $46 million project to build additional granular activated carbon filters at Sweeney Water Treatment Plant to remove PFAS compounds. Those compounds largely result from decades of releases by Chemours and DuPont from their chemical plant about 100 miles up the Cape Fear River from Wilmington. Learn more here (includes extended news release and additional information, as well as links to illustrations of the facility).
Wrightsville Beach interlocal agreement: The board approved an interlocal agreement (ILA) with Wrightsville Beach to provide water to the Town for three years at CFPUA’s Short-Term Mutual Aid Bulk Water Rate of 65 cents per 1,000 gallons. The agreement is only for the provision of water to Wrightsville Beach. The Town must pay for all costs to provide the water to its customers, including permits, infrastructure, meters, and billing. Like CFPUA, Wrightsville Beach has PFAS compounds in its water supply. Those PFAS compounds largely are the result of decades of contamination by Chemours and DuPont. CFPUA is providing this short-term mutual aid rate to a neighbor affected by a regional issue. Learn more here.
Proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020: CFPUA staff presented its proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020. The $85.6 million budget, a 4.6 percent increase over the previous year, includes no rate increase. The board will consider adoption of the budget at its June board meeting.