The engineering firm that will study long-term solutions for Wrightsville Beach’s aging water and sewer system will consider recommendations from options that range from buying supplemental water for the peak summer season to selling the system to the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority.
Representatives of Raleigh-based McKim & Creed presented the town’s ad-hoc water and sewer committee with the scope of the study on Monday night. The study will take about five months to complete and will examine everything from the taste of the water to the value of the town’s water and sewer infrastructure.
“If the two systems are going to be integrated, it’s important to make sure you have an accurate picture of everything going on,” said McKim & Creed’s Tony Boahn.
After evaluating the system, the firm will present recommendations that consider five potential options for the town, each of which will come with challenges.
On one end, the town could purchase water from the neighboring CFPUA to supplement the town’s water supply from May to September, when use rises sharply. However, since the two system use different decontamination methods and have different infrastructure, there could be a noticeable change in water quality and taste. Boahn said studying the quality of blended water samples would be part of the overall report.
Other similar options could include the town buying water from the CFPUA to store until peak season or the town purchasing all of its water from the neighboring system.
The study will also look at the value of the system to evaluate the benefits of selling the town’s water and sewer system to the CFPUA, which would then operate it. Boahn also laid out a “hybrid” plan that could see the town selling some assets on the mainland to CFPUA while continue its operations of the island system.
In addition to the recommendations, the report will also include a 10-year capital improvement plan, Boahn said.
In related news, public works director Bill Squires said the valve exercising program currently being conducted on the system has discovered two broken valves and one that was closed. The tests are projected to be completed faster than the two-month schedule, Squires said, as staff is able to test nearly 50 a day. The town’s system has 550 valves, but weather and other conditions can affect the exercising schedule. Squires said the valves need to be checked regularly to keep them working properly.
“That’s the problem when we have a main break,” Squires said. “We think the valve is closed, but it’s not.”
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