What is a Water
Reclaimation Facility?
Policy Advisory Commitee (PAC)
These FAQs were created to provide a supplemental source of information for our website viewers. Our goal is that these FAQs clarify information or terminology that is found elsewhere on the website, such as in the articles or meeting minutes. Please visit our Contact Us page if you have additional questions that are not fully answered in these FAQs.
Do you have a specific question you would like to see answered in the FAQs?
Send it to: info@westernwakepartners.com
1. Who are the Western Wake Partners?
The term Western Wake Partners (or Project Partners) refers to the Towns of Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, and Morrisville. These four areas are located in the western side of Wake County, which is how the name was derived. These four areas represent close to 25% of the total population of Wake County. Each Town is facing the need for additional wastewater treatment capacity to keep up with growth.
2. Why are the Partners working together?
Each of the partners considered how to best meet their own treatment needs. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) encouraged the towns to consider the adoption of a single regional approach, rather than several independent solutions. Studies showed that by coming together to create one regional facility that will serve each town, the Partners’ solution will be more environmentally sensitive and more economical than if each town were to build their own.
3. How many wastewater treatment facilities do the Partners already have?
Together, the Partners have four water reclamation sites: the Apex Middle Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, the North Cary Water Reclamation Facility, the South Cary Water Reclamation Facility, and the Utley Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant which serves the Town of Holly Springs. This MAP illustrates the locations of the current facilities.
4. Why are the Partners concerned that there is a need for a regional water reclamation facility?
There are three drivers behind this project, (1) a regulatory mandate issued by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (NCEMC), (2) a recommendation issued by the NCDENR Division of Water Quality (DWQ), and (3) population growth in the region.
(1) The regulatory mandate issued by the NCEMC addresses an Interbasin Transfer (IBT) by the Towns of Apex, Cary, and Morrisville. An IBT refers to any occurrence of water being withdrawn from one of the state’s water basins and being discharged into another. North Carolina has 17 water basins, and all transfers between them are regulated. In this case, the mandate requires that the towns begin to return water to the Haw or Cape Fear River Basin after 2010.
(2) The DWQ recommendation strongly suggests that the Town of Holly Springs no longer discharge water into Utley Creek.
(3) Currently the combined population of Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, and Morrisville accounts for roughly 25% of Wake County’s total population. By 2010, the expected population for these areas is 220,150 people, and that number is expected to double by 2030. Even with slow growth, it is clear that Western Wake Partners will face a wastewater challenge.
5. What is a water reclamation facility – what does it do?
Commonly called a wastewater treatment facility, a water reclamation facility (WRF) cleans contaminants from wastewater that is generated by residences, businesses, hospitals, institutions and industrial establishments. The objective is to produce a clean, treated effluent and/or solid waste or sludge that is suitable for safe reuse or discharge back into the environment.
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) within NCDENR sets requirements for the treatment of all wastewater (known as reclaimed water) and the reuse of cleaned wastewater in North Carolina.
6. Where is the proposed location of the regional facility?
In determining a site, engineering /operational factors, environmental factors, economic factors, and social and cultural factors had to be considered. The site must tie directly to the Partners’ utilities, meet all environmental regulatory concerns, protect citizens’ quality of life, and be economical.
Based on consultants’ recommendations, the Partners decided on a proposed site, which is located southwest of the Town of Apex in the vicinity of US Highway 1. The site is over 200 acres, but only 50 to 60 of those acres will be required for the facility buildings. The entire water reclamation facility will be surrounded by approximately 200 feet of forested buffer to minimize any impacts to nearby residents, and to provide an aesthetically pleasing site.
7. Are the Partners considering any alternative sites?
Yes. Thirty alternative sites were screened for consideration. Currently, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is leading the production of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will document the impacts of the Partners proposal on four alternative sites that were selected for detailed evaluation.
8. Have the Partners already purchased their preferred site?
Yes. After following the applicable provisions of the partnership agreement and in accordance with State laws, the Town of Cary (as the Lead Agency) acquired about 211 acres on August 11, 2005, at a final cost of $6,750,000. The Partners are currently in the process of negotiating with Progress Energy for the acquisition of an additional 24 acres for the construction of an access road to the site from Shearon Harris Road.
9. What will become of the land purchased by the Partners if the facility is built on another site?
According to the NC General Statutes, the land could be used for another public purpose (GSA40A-10), or sold in the manner prescribed by law for the sale and disposition of surplus property.
10. What exactly will be built on the site?
The design is not finalized at this point, but it is expected to include five main buildings: a small administration building, a solids handling facility, a blower building, a generator room, and an effluent pump station, plus tanks and related appurtenances for treating wastewater . Check back as the project progresses for the final facility design.
11. What progress has been made on the project?
In April, 2007, the NCDENR DWQ and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) met with the Partners and determined the best path forward was for the USACE to initiate an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of the project on the proposed site.
The USACE is moving forward with developing a NEPA EIS in conjunction with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process, and a Record of Decision is expected no later than December, 2009.
12. What is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)?
The purpose of the EIS is to document the environmental impacts of the proposed project, compared to all other reasonable action alternatives – including a no-action alternative. The EIS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and also meets all requirements of the North Carolina State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The final EIS will be the basis for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) decision as to whether or not the proposed project can be permitted under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
The final EIS will also meet requirements of SEPA and will be the basis for the issuance of State permits, including two NPDES permits for discharge to surface water. Following receipt of all required permits, construction can commence.
13. What is the expected construction schedule?
The USACE is the lead agency for the NEPA EIS process. The timing of all subsequent phases of the project, including construction, is dependent upon the USACE process.
Currently, construction is scheduled to begin in late 2010, and be completed late spring of 2013. Assuming this schedule, the facility will be operational in the summer of 2013. This schedule assumes a Record of Decision by the USACE no later than December of 2009. The schedule page of our website shows the entire project schedule as it currently stands.
2008 All Rights Reserved
Western Wake Partners