THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 23, 1996 TAG: 9603230254
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RODANTHE LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
Centrally produced water began pouring through pipes in 665 northern Hatteras Island homes and businesses this month - and the compliments about its quality already are flowing.
``It's 100 percent better. There's no salt in it,'' said Richard Ferrell, manager of Hatteras Island resort, which includes 36 cottages, a 42-room hotel, the Down Under Restaurant and Rodanthe Fishing Pier.
``It's perfect, actually,'' Ferrell said happily from his Rodanthe facility Friday afternoon. ``Everybody's been really enjoying it.''
Rodanthe resident Debbie Kuntzelman agreed. ``It's a whole lot cleaner than what we're used to,'' she said. ``There's a lot more water pressure, too, now. And we're even getting more soap suds in the shower.''
Until March 11, property owners in Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo relied on private wells for all their water.
The condition of the water in those three villages varied dramatically between households. Some people said their water was as darkly colored as iced tea. Others said it had a stench similar to that of a sewage drain. And a few even complained that the well water in their washing machines stained their clothes.
Twelve days ago, however, workers began installing meters and connecting homes and businesses to Rodanthe's new reverse-osmosis water production plant. The $6.5 million system draws its water from wells sunk 285 to 360 feet into the ground. It can produce 700 gallons of water a minute, up to 1 million gallons a day.
County officials will dedicate the plant - a 6,400-square-foot water production facility - at a public ceremony scheduled for noon Friday.
``We're holding the grand opening at the water department's new billing office, at the R-O plant, in Rodanthe,'' Dare County Water Supervisor Bob Oreskovich said Friday. ``We'll have finger food available, a 15-minute ceremony, and we'll offer free tours of the production facility to anyone who's interested.
``So far,'' said Oreskovich, ``we've been getting nothing but praise and compliments from people about this water.''
Reverse-osmosis plants purify underground water by removing 99 percent of the salt, minerals and other substances. Every drop of water runs through 104 membranes - more than 37,440 square feet of filters - before it flows from any faucets. Ocracoke Island officials installed the state's first reverse-osmosis plant in 1976. Kill Devil Hills got one in 1989. A third, much smaller, plant operates in Corolla.
So far, 850 property owners have said they want to be connected to northern Hatteras Island's new central water system as soon as possible. Workers already have hooked up all 665 customers who paid their initial $102 deposit. Just last week, 40 more properties became connected to the plant.
In addition to existing residents and business owners, about half of the three villages' property owners have said they want to be hooked onto the central water system once they build on their still-undeveloped lots. More than 1,500 people already have paid the $300 connection fee - which is separate from the deposit. Water impact fees, connection costs and deposits for the reverse-osmosis system total $2,942 for most homes. Every property owner who can be hooked up to the system also will be charged a $1,500 assessment. That assessment can be paid over seven years.
Water will cost an average of $51 per quarter for 9,000 gallons. Since most people will need to flush the private well water from their hot water heaters and pipes before they can use the reverse-osmosis water, Dare County commissioners agreed to give customers the first 1,000 gallons of water for free. Oreskovich said people need to hook onto the central system as soon as possible to take advantage of that deal.
``Everyone will be charged $51 for the first quarter-year of water use if they use 10,000 gallons of water or less,'' he said. ``The initial billing period begins June 3. If you haven't used your free 1,000 gallons by then, you'll lose them because we'll have to charge for all the water after that date.''
Besides tasting better and looking cleaner than most water drawn from private, more shallow wells, reverse-osmosis water sent through a central system also allowed Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo residents to get fire hydrants installed in their villages for the first time. The water is softer than regular well water. And a 400-kilowatt generator at the plant allows water to keep flowing even during Hatteras Island's notorious power outages.
``We're about 90 percent done with the automation of the system so far,'' Oreskovich said. ``We expect to have it 100 percent completed by the ceremony Friday.''
Though the plant hasn't officially been dedicated yet, 12 full-time employees already are working there. At least 18 visitors have signed the guest book. And their comments all have been complimentary.
``Cool,'' one person wrote.
``Sweet water,'' signed another.
Finally, a guest left a simple message echoed by many northern Hatteras Island residents: ``Great operation - it's about time.'' ILLUSTRATION: PLANT DEDICATION
At noon Friday, Dare County officials will dedicate the new
reverse-osmosis water production plant that's already providing
water to 665 residences and businesses in Rodanthe, Waves and
Salvo.
The free ceremony, which will include finger food and tours, is open
to all Dare County residents and will be held at the Rodanthe water
production plant and billing facility.
For more information, call 987-1111.
by CNB