CFPUA BOARD APPROVES CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT WATER, SEWER LINES TO FLEMINGTON, U.S. 421 CORRIDOR
CFPUA, Duke Energy water project will ensure long-term water supply;
CFPUA agreements with New Hanover County, City of Wilmington
will add sewer project to support future economic development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mike McGill
(910) 332-6704
After Hours: (910) 622-8472
Mike.McGill@cfpua.org
communications@cfpua.org
WILMINGTON, NC, April 8, 2015: Earlier today, the Board of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) approved a construction contract for two projects that will first connect Flemington-area residents to CFPUA’s central drinking water system then provide the ability for the entire U.S. 421 Corridor to connect to CFPUA’s central water and sewer systems. The water line portion of the construction contract is based upon an agreement reached between CFPUA and Duke Energy in October of 2013, while the sewer project is based upon an agreement among CFPUA, New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington.
It is important to note there is no current health risk to CFPUA’s customers currently served by Flemington’s drinking water wells. Monitoring data continues to show the wells remain in compliance with federal and state drinking water regulations and the construction project will be completed long before any projected groundwater impacts. For the water project, Duke Energy is contributing a total of $3.175 million to the project, with CFPUA allocating an additional $460,000 from existing water emergency repair and developer agreement project funds.
CFPUA’s master plan shows a larger water line serving the U.S. 421 Corridor and opening the area to greater economic development. Upon review of the water line project, CFPUA determined the construction of sewer lines at the same time would be cost-effective and achieve master plan objectives. As a result, agreements were reached with New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington to construct two 8-inch sewer lines underneath the Cape Fear River. CFPUA and New Hanover County will split the sewer project’s $1.2 million cost, while the City of Wilmington will provide the use of essential city land for construction and maintenance of the lines.
“When this project began in 2013, CFPUA’s goal was to ensure that people who live and work in the Flemington area continue receiving high-quality drinking water. Our agreement with Duke Energy achieved that goal,” said Jim Flechtner, CFPUA Executive Director. “At the same time, we have been presented with an ideal opportunity to accelerate a portion of our wastewater master plan and aid New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington with their important economic objectives.”
“There is nothing more fundamental than the ability for a person to know – without question – that their drinking water is safe. The new water pipeline provides the Flemington community with a resounding and unwavering answer to their concerns,” said Pat Kusek, CFPUA Board Chairman. “Water and sewer services also provide the backbone for economic development in a community. We are proud in the knowledge that the steps taken today will help the city and county open a new gateway for investment in our region.”
“Duke Energy is committed to protecting public health, while ensuring electricity remains reliable and affordable to power the region and state,” said Paul Newton, Duke Energy state president for North Carolina. “Eighteen months ago, we joined with CFPUA in recognizing the need to act proactively on behalf of the Flemington community. This is a great example of the power of collaboration; through our mutual commitment to doing what’s best for the community, our neighbors have a permanent source of clean water.”
While the projects are not tied to the findings of the 2014 Garner report on economic development, they support several of its recommendations that have gained widespread support from local leaders. The pipelines will transform a significant portion of northwestern New Hanover County, allowing it to attract and grow more high-quality economic activities. During its work to prioritize the report’s recommendations, city and county leaders placed further extension of water and sewer to the 421 Corridor on its list of future priorities.
“These projects will give the residents of Flemington the comfort of knowing their drinking water will remain safe while creating important infrastructure,” said New Hanover County Commission Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Jr.
“We have all seen the projections for significant growth within the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County,” said Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo. “Projects like these, which fulfill a variety of essential current and future needs, don’t come along very often. A foundation is literally being laid underneath the Cape Fear River that will pay dividends for decades to come.”
“The Garner Report showed how making the Cape Fear region more attractive to new and existing businesses takes serious investment,” said Wilmington Chamber of Commerce First Vice Chair Mitch Lamm. “Extending water and sewer to the U.S. 421 Corridor is a significant step towards making our community more marketable and maximizing our success in growing our local economy.”
The water and sewer construction work, which involves drilling under the Cape Fear River, will begin immediately and take approximately 10 months to complete. For more information about the construction projects, please contact Mike McGill, Chief Communications Officer for CFPUA, at 332-6704 or via email at mike.mcgill@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 67,000 water customer accounts and more than 65,000 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.