N
estled in the heart of the Great Smoky
Mountains of Western North Carolina is the
small folksy town of Maggie Valley. On the
short two-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 19,
the town’s main thoroughfare, you will find
Maggie Valley’s most cherished attractions.
Maggie Valley or just “the Valley,” as locals
refer to the area, is a fairly well-known area
in North Carolina. Whether passing through
the Valley as a motorcycle enthusiast, a
leaf watcher, a traveler on the Blue Ridge
Parkway, a patron to the Cherokee Casino
that is just over the mountain, a skier at the
Cataloochee Ski Area, or as a family to watch
the shootouts at Ghost Town in the Sky, many
visitors have passed through the small town.
Still, the Valley is the type of place where
local men gather around for breakfast every
morning at Joey’s Pancake House, a place
where the waitress has their order memorized.
Tucked right off the main highway on Rich
Cove Road is a modest brick structure tagged
with a signpost reading “Maggie Valley
Sanitary District” in bold letters. Much like
the rest of this small town, the office building,
although newly constructed, appears to be
nothing more than ordinary. The side has
a drive-thru window for townsfolk to pay
their water bill. In the parking lot out front
sits several white run-of-the-mill utility
trucks accompanied by two cars belonging to
patrons inside. Just across Rich Cove Road,
the Sanitary District’s 3 million gallons
per day (MGD) water treatment plant is
immediately visible along with several of
their seven distribution and treatment staff
busying themselves with the tasks of the day.
Back at their office, the front corridor leads
right into the main lobby where three ladies sit
behind desks managing paperwork, answering
phones, and tending to customers and the lone
drive-thru window. Just a few feet away in
the first office on the right, you will find Neil
Carpenter, General Manager of
Maggie Valley Sanitary District.
Mr. Carpenter, or Neil as
he prefers, is a native of the
“Valley.” His parents still reside
just up the highway from Neil’s
office, and if you are willing to
take a near treacherous climb up
the mountain behind them, you
will find the warm, modest home
of Neil and his family nestled
peacefully on the side of the
mountain overlooking the Valley.
Neil’s wife of 26 years, Cindy,
works for the local elementary
school, and his son and daughter
have also been well involved in
their hometown through church
and school. Life in the Valley
seems pleasant for Neil.
Neil began working at Maggie
Valley Sanitary District in 1990, where he
served as an operator at their water treatment
plant and in the distribution system for eight
years. During that time, Neil gained his
A-Distribution and his A-Water Treatment
certifications. In 1998, he was promoted to
General Manager of the Sanitary District.
1998 proved to be a taxing time for their
water treatment plant and distribution system
as they were losing over 58 percent of their
water, mostly through leaks in the distribution
system. “It was so overwhelming that the
North Carolina Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (NCDENR) had to
step in to aid in a facility upgrade,” Neil
recalls. At the time, the plant was designed
and permitted for 1.5 MGD. In order to meet
the demands of the system, the plant was
upgraded to 3 MGD through a $2.5 million
High Unit Cost Grant. This project was also
coupled with the replacement of about one-
third of their main transmission lines.
Maggie Valley Sanitary District immediately
began and continues reaping the benefits of
the actions implemented throughout the 1990s
and early 2000s. In 1998, they were producing
1.4 MGD and served right at 2,000 customer
accounts. Today, they only produce about
0.96 MGD and serve about 3,700 customers.
Quite an improvement in their efficiency.
“Whatever it takes.” That is the motto
Carpenter wholeheartedly believes in
and strives to instill in his employees.
With a management position comes great
responsibility, but in a small system, this
reigns even more true. When asked about his
regular day as General Manager, Neil simply
replied, “A regular day, Wow!” He explained,
“I wear all the hats. I’m operating the
treatment plant, I’m repairing the leaks, I’m
meeting with the senators about watershed
acquisitions.” Relating to many managers
across the industry, Neil was quick to point
out that he couldn’t really define what a
“regular” day was as a General Manager.
“Whatever It Takes”
BY SCARLETT LYNN HOWELL
NEIL CARPENTER TAKES THE REIGNS OF RURAL WATER
24
NCRWA.COM |
Summer 2013
