Page 12 - NCRWA Tarheel Pipeline Spring 2013

10 NCRWA.COM | Spring 2013
feature
what has this project costed Pasquotank
County? Over the past 15 years, the project
expenditures have totaled just under $20
Million with about $4 Million coming from
the reserve fund started in 1997. “We added a
$1.00 per 1000 gallons of water sold in order
to reserve the money to start this project,” Mr.
Gregory explained about the action taken
in 1997. The remainder of the project was
financed through a private financial institution
on a 20 year note.
Past the initial construction, operating a
plant designed to turn saltwater into potable
water also comes at a premium. Currently,
the plant treats water between 9 and 10 hours
per day, and the electric bill for these hours
of operation averages just over $12,000 per
month. If this example of elevated operational
costs is not enough, the membranes that
separate permeate and concentrate have a
lifespan of 5 to 7 years and a replacement
cost of about $250,000. Put all of this together
and you arrive at a price of $5.34 per 1,000
gallons to our bulk customers and a $15.00
per month base residential rate, which is still
not a bad price considering the County has
secured their supply of clean, safe water for
the future generations of their customers.
Diligence in planning, endurance though
construction and an unwavering commitment
to the future of Pasquotank County all
exemplify the success of this project and
serve as a model for other systems facing the
future demands of providing safe and reliable
service to their customers. Congratulations
Pasquotank County!
“Diligence in
planning...
endurance though
construction...
unwavering
commitment...”
Photo Courtesy of Mike Cox