THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 6, 1996 TAG: 9608060412
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 86 lines
A proposal to build a water treatment plant on the south end of Hatteras Island was given a go-ahead Monday with an announcement that a discharge permit for a reverse-osmosis facility has been granted.
``This will clear the last hurdle to proceed physically with this project,'' said Fred Hobbs, president of Hobbs, Upchurch & Associates, a consulting engineer firm based in Southern Pines. ``It's excellent news.''
In a brief appearance before the Dare County Board of Commissioners, Hobbs said that with the approval of the state Division of Water Quality, the firm will draw up contracts to begin designing the plant.
The Cape Hatteras Water Association in March voted to turn its co-operative utility over to Dare County because with the county's tax-exempt bonding power, construction costs would be lower than if the association did it on its own.
When Dare County takes over the Cape Hatteras Water Association and builds the new production facility, water rates for residents are projected to nearly double. If the association had decided to take on the project itself, however, rates would probably have tripled.
Association members pay $6.90 per 1,000 gallons.
But the county takeover, and the new water treatment plant, hinged entirely on the discharge permit.
``The commissioners wanted to make sure that they could get everything they needed,'' said Linda Foster, the assistant manager of the Cape Hatteras Water Association. ``Because there's no point in them taking over if they couldn't provide water for the system.''
Serving more than half the 5,000 parcels of land in Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village, the Hatteras water group has been in search of additional water sources since 1984. But lawsuits made drilling wells in state-protected Buxton Woods impossible. For more than five years, Foster said, the association has had to enforce a water moratorium. Pre-existing water rights could be traded, but no additional water could be provided.
``You just couldn't get water unless you were lucky enough to have a well,'' Foster said. ``We need a reliable, adequate water supply.''
The water association board said in March that it will be necessary to refurbish the existing plant as well as build a new reverse osmosis plant.
The proposed water treatment plant, which would desalt brackish water from aquifers and treat shallow groundwater supplies, is projected to cost about $7.5 million to construct. Costs to refit the existing plant and add new lines would cost an additional $2.3 million.
Dare County Finance Director David Clawson said the county would meet with a bond counselor today to discuss details required to secure an $11 million bond. County officials will then meet next week with the reverse-osmosis engineer.
Clawson said experts in the osmosis process had said it would be impractical for the Cape Hatteras Water Association to hook on to the county's new $6.5 million reverse osmosis plant in Rodanthe because of concerns about available volume, damage from increased water pressure and sluggish water travel through the lines in the off-peak season.
Construction of the new reverse-osmosis facility is expected to begin within 18 months, Clawson said.
In another matter Monday, the board deadlocked 3-3 on a resolution that would authorize purchase of the home health building, known locally as the ``Old Steakhouse,'' on Sir Walter Raleigh Street.
The board's Capital Improvement Committee had recommended that the county purchase the building for $320,000 rather than continue to pay rent on the 4,636 square feet of office space. The county leases the building for an annual total of $33,198.
Commissioner Joseph ``Mac'' Midgett suggested the county instead build a metal building on a parcel of land it already owns.
``I think owning is better than renting,'' he said. ``I just don't think it's worth $320,000.''
Acting Chairman Clarence Skinner and Commissioners Geneva Perry and Douglas Langford argued that the county is wasting money because it will have no equity when the lease is up in 10 years.
But the motion died when the remainder of the panel voted against the purchase.
Commission Chairman R.V ``Bobby'' Owens Jr. was out of town attending a meeting of the Democratic National Party platform committee.
In other business, the board:
Decided to pursue an idea brought up by Jennifer Hooper during public comment suggesting that the county provide stickers for rental cottage phones that provide location and phone numbers for 911 callers to convey to emergency personnel.
``Often, people who come to our area to visit have no earthly idea where they are,'' Hooper told the board.
Agreed to provide up to $5,000 for a flood prevention and drainage study to evaluate drainage systems in all watersheds throughout the county. by CNB