Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and answers will be updated to reflect changing interests, concerns, and conditions as the project moves forward between now and 2011, so please visit often.

The Partnership and Facilities
Site Selection
Facility Operations
Environmental Protection and Regulatory Process
Utility Service
Meetings and Public Input
Construction
Pipeline
Geotechnical Investigations

The Partnership and Facilities

1. What is a water reclamation facility?

Commonly referred to as a wastewater or sewage treatment plant, a water reclamation facility (WRF) cleans wastewater used by homes and businesses so that it can be safely returned to the environment. A WRF uses a biological process to remove almost all pollutants from wastewater, including nitrogen and phosphorus. The wastewater then goes through filtration and ultraviolet disinfection, which treat the wastewater to levels such that it can be reused for non-potable purposes like lawn irrigation.

A WRF is supervised and operated by highly trained staff who have received additional training in the safe operation, supervision, and monitoring of reclaimed water systems. Routine testing and monitoring of critical water quality parameters within the reclaimed water system provide additional quality assurance.

The Division of Water Quality within the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) sets requirements for the treatment of wastewater and the reuse of cleaned wastewater.

2. Who are the “Western Wake Partners”?

The Western Wake Partners, or Project Partners, are the towns of Apex, Cary, Morrisville, and Holly Springs. We have joined together to address a mutual need—additional wastewater treatment and discharge capacity—through a regional project. Wake County and Fuquay-Varina were also key participants in the two-year study process that resulted in the Project Partners’ decision to move forward with the regional facilities

3. What are the “Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facilities”?

The facilities include three pump stations, one water reclamation plant, and all the pipes that connect them. West Cary and Beaver Creek pump stations will move raw wastewater from Apex, Cary, and Morrisville to the new water reclamation facility (WRF) for treatment. The third pump station, which will be at the Western Wake WRF site, and a force main will take the cleaned wastewater from both the Western Wake WRF and Holly Springs’ existing Utley Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant to a discharge point on the Cape Fear River below Buckhorn Dam.

4. How have the Project Partners and the residents of Wake County been represented in the project?

The elected officials of each town along with the Wake County Board of Commissioners voted on whether and how to participate in each phase of the project and assigned staff to do most of the day-to-day work.

Wake County Government led the initial two year study process, which involved the towns of Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, and Morrisville. A Project Guidance Team made up of the Town and county managers met periodically during this period to provide guidance to a Technical Management Team comprised of local government staff and consultants.

After a regional solution was selected by the participants in the initial study, the Project Partners chose Cary to lead the implementation phase; once again, this action was codified by elected officials’ voting in support of this. A Technical Advisory Committee, made up of staff from Apex, Holly Springs, and Morrisville provides input on project implementation. While no longer involved as a partner in the implementation phase, Wake County is kept informed of the Partners’ progress.

5. Who is in charge of the project? Whom do I call for answers to questions?

As detailed on the main page of the project Web site, Kim Fisher of the Town of Cary Public Works and Utilities Department is the main contact person for the project. The Project Partners have selected Cary to serve as the lead agency and to make decisions for land acquisition, planning, permitting, design, construction, operation, and management of the proposed facilities. The Technical Advisory Committee will have input on decisions and when necessary, the Town Managers will meet to discuss major issues.

6. Is the proposed system a “combined sewer system” or only sewage?

The wastewater collection systems owned and operated by the Project Partners will be separate sanitary sewer systems—not combined stormwater and sanitary sewer systems.

7. How many wastewater treatment facilities do the Project Partners already have?

Four—the Apex Wastewater Treatment Plant, North Cary Water Reclamation Facility, South Cary Water Reclamation Facility, and Utley Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, which serves Holly Springs.

8. Why are the Project Partners building more wastewater facilities?

There are two primary reasons. First, thanks to the economic vitality of our region, more families and businesses are moving to and staying in western Wake County. To be responsible service providers, the Project Partners will need additional wastewater treatment and discharge facilities. Therefore, Apex, Cary, and Morrisville will build a new water reclamation facility while Holly Springs will expand and upgrade its Utley Creek WWTP. All four communities will participate in new discharge facilities to the Cape Fear River.

Second, all of the Partners have been encouraged by NC DENR to develop the new discharge to the Cape Fear River as a cooperative (regional) project. An Interbasin Transfer Certificate issued by NC DENR requires that Apex, Cary, Morrisville, and the Wake County portion of Research Triangle Park return cleaned wastewater to the Cape Fear River basin by 2011. Since existing facilities discharge only to the Neuse River basin, new facilities will have to be constructed to meet this State mandate. NC DENR is also encouraging Holly Springs to move their discharge point from Utley Creek to the main body of the Cape Fear River.

Other factors that favor a new regional water reclamation facility and cleaned wastewater discharge include:

>Increased residential and industrial growth is expected in the western part of the towns, along highways 55, 64, and 1, and the planned extension of the Western Wake Expressway southward from Interstate 40. Sending wastewater from these areas eastward to Cary’s treatment facilities would be difficult, expensive, and potentially would have more environmental impacts than a new facility.
> Regulatory agencies have discouraged discharge increases at existing locations, and some existing facilities have limited space for expansion.

9. Why can’t the cleaned wastewater (effluent) from Holly Springs’ Utley Creek WWTP be discharged into Harris Lake?

Discharge points are regulated by NC DENR, and officials of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Quality have encouraged Holly Springs to remove their wastewater discharge to Harris Lake because of water quality concerns for the lake.

10. What is the timing for this project, and what elements of the project are being pursued concurrently?

Since being jointly issued an Interbasin Transfer Certificate in 2001, Apex, Cary, Morrisville, and Wake County have been working on meeting the certificate’s requirement to return cleaned wastewater to the Cape Fear River Basin by January 2011. The Partners investigated independent solutions but then were strongly encouraged by NC DENR to work on a regional solution. Given the time requirements to enter into interlocal agreements, perform engineering studies, prepare environmental documentation, purchase land, apply for permits, involve the public, and design and construct facilities by 2011, it’s necessary that the project proceed on an expedited schedule. The project elements that are being worked on concurrently are land acquisition, permitting, and final design of the facilities.

11.  What is the purpose of the Western Wake Partners Policy Advisory Committee? Who is on the Committee? How are they selected?

The Policy Advisory Committee was established in the Interlocal Agreement for Design, Construction Ownership, Management and Operation of Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facilities between Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville, dated August 22, 2005. The membership of the committee was also established in that agreement. The specific text from the Interlocal Agreement is:

ARTICLE 5
ADVISORY COMMITTEES
Section 5.1.  The Policy Advisory Committee. 

(a) A Policy Advisory Committee, consisting of the Mayors and Town Managers of Apex, Cary and Morrisville, or their designees, shall be created to advise the Lead Agency on all policy matters for the Wastewater Management Facilities and in the selection of outside consultants for major capital projects. With respect to matters that relate solely to the Treated Effluent Pumping and Conveyance Facilities, the Mayor and the Town Manager of Holly Springs will also be a member of the Policy Advisory Committee. The Mayor of any Town may designate the Town Manager as the Mayor’s designee. The Policy Advisory Committee shall meet at least annually and may determine to meet more often as deemed necessary by the Policy Advisory Committee. The Policy Advisory Committee shall also meet upon the request of any Project Partner.

(b) Any recommendations made by the Policy Advisory Committee requiring a vote of the members will be made on the basis of one vote per Town.  Apex, Cary and Morrisville shall be entitled to vote with respect to any matters regarding the Wastewater Management Facilities.  Holly Springs shall be entitled to vote with respect to matters that relate solely to the Treated Effluent Pumping and Conveyance Facilities.  A majority vote of the Policy Advisory Committee will be binding on the Lead Agency.