NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 23, 1999

TOWN TO SAVE WATER,
PROTECT ENVIRONMENT WITH
"FIRST IN STATE"
BULK RECLAIMED WATER PROJECT

CARY, NC – The Town of Cary this week will begin diverting treated wastewater from the Neuse River Basin and, instead, making it available free of charge for use by contractors and landscape companies for irrigation, street cleaning, dust control, and other non-potable uses. Cary’s new Bulk Reclaimed Water (BRW) project is the first of its kind in North Carolina. The project is designed to reduce the amount of wastewater going into streams and rivers while also reducing the amount of unnecessary commercial use of drinking water. The Town could give away as much as 100,000 gallons per day of BRW.

"The result of the bulk reclaimed water project will be a cleaner environment and more efficient use of our drinking water supply," said Town Manager Bill Coleman. "We’re very excited about this program and look forward to the benefits it will bring to our community. We want to provide a real alternative to using potable water in many cases."

Town officials will begin training bulk users on the do’s and don’ts of the new system at a training session and ribbon cutting at 9:00 AM on August 26^th at the North Cary Water Reclamation Facility (NCWRF) located off Old Reedy Creek Road. The event will familiarize owners and employees involved in the bulk water transport and use business of the opportunity to use reclaimed water. Drivers and owners will register and be trained regarding the proper use of reclaimed water (non-potable) since there are restrictions governing direct and indirect human contact.

While it’s costing Cary about $25,000 to start its bulk project, the Town’s desire to recycle a valuable product and divert flow from the Neuse River Basin is greater than the need to recover these costs; thus, the service is free for now. If additional staff and resources are required down the road,

the Town may reevaluate establishing a user fee or registration fee for the BRW in the future.

To start with, the Town will make BRW available 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. This initial schedule may be changed as the program develops.

First proposed in 1996, Town of Cary Public Works & Utilities staff constructed the BRW facilities with engineering and technical support provided by Camp, Dresser, and McKee. The North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality, provided technical review and oversight.

But Cary’s efforts at water reuse don’t end here. The Town plans to add a BRW program at its South Cary Water Reclamation Facility following several months of evaluation of the success of the NCWRF program. And both bulk reclaimed water projects are forerunners to the larger, comprehensive piped reclaimed water system that is being designed for and around both the South and North Cary Water Reclamation Facilities. The schedule for the reclaimed water system is as follows:

• North Cary Water Reclamation Facility Reclaimed Water Improvements

Design: Complete January 1999
Construction: March 2001 Completion

• South Cary Water Reclamation Facility Reclaimed Water Improvements

Design: Complete January 1999
Construction: March 2001 Completion

• North Cary Water Reclamation Facility – Final Phase

Design: July 2000
Construction: March 2002 Completion

On average, the NCWRF discharges on average about 6 million gallons of wastewater per day. The state has set 100,000 gallons per day as Cary’s permitted diversion limit for bulk use at this time.

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MEDIA NOTES:

DIRECTIONS--Cary’s NCWRF is located at 1900 Old Reedy Creek Road, near the intersection of North Harrison Avenue and I-40. Old Reedy Creek Road is off of Weston Parkway approximately ½ mile from where it intersects with North Harrison Ave.

SCHEDULE--9:00 AM Gather at NCWRF reclaimed loading station for introduction of the new program, remarks by Cary’s Mayor, Town Council, and other dignitaries, and demonstration of the loading process; 9:30 AM Training begins in the training room of the NCWRF Admin. Building. The kickoff event will take place rain or shine.

DETAILS—As always, visit our website for more details, www.townofcary.org.