Frequently Asked Questions
These FAQs were created to provide a source of current information for our website viewers. Questions and answers will be updated to reflect changing interests, concerns and conditions as the project moves forward. Please visit our Contact Us page if you have additional questions that are not fully answered in these FAQs.
Effluent Pipeline FAQ's from the Chatham County Neighborhood Meeting
Information for Property Owners with Utility Easements
1. Who are the Western Wake Partners?
The term Western Wake Partners (or Project Partners) refers to the Towns of Apex, Cary, and Morrisville. These three areas are located in the western side of Wake County, which is how the name was derived. Each Town is facing the need for additional wastewater treatment capacity to keep up with growth.
2. Why are the Partners working together?
Each of the partners considered how to best meet their own treatment needs. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) encouraged the towns to consider the adoption of a single regional approach, rather than several independent solutions. Studies showed that by coming together to create one regional facility that will serve each town, the Partners' solution will be more environmentally sensitive and more economical than if each town were to build their own.
3. What is a water reclamation facility – what does it do?
Commonly called a wastewater treatment facility, a water reclamation facility (WRF) cleans contaminants from wastewater that is generated by residences, businesses, hospitals, institutions and industrial establishments. The objective is to produce a clean, treated effluent and/or solid waste or sludge that is suitable for safe reuse or discharge back into the environment.
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) within NCDENR sets requirements for the treatment of all wastewater.
4. What are the "Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facilities"?
The facilities include three pump stations, one water reclamation facility (WRF), 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 WRF for treatment. The third pump station, which will be at the WRF site, and a force main will take the cleaned wastewater from the Western Wake WRF' existing Utley Creek Wastewater Treatment Plan to a discharge point on the Cape Fear River, below Buckhorn Dam.
5. Where is the Western Wake WRF?
The location of the Western Wake WRF is north of US 1 and just south of Old US 1, bordered by New Hill Holleman Road to the east, and Shearon Harris Road to the west.
The site is 237 acres, however, only 62 acres will be required for the facility buidlings. The entire WRF will be surrounded by approximately 200 feet of forested buffer to minimize any impacts to nearby residents, and to provide an aesthetically pleasing site.
6. What exactly will be built on the site?
Five main buildings will be on the site, including: a small administration building, a solids handling facility, a blower building, a generator room, and an effluent pump station, plus tanks and related appurtenances for treating wastewater.
7. What is the expected construction schedule? When is the facility expected to become operational?
Currently, construction is expected to being in 2010, and be completed, with the plant operational by the Spring of 2014. The project schedule page of our website shows the schedule as it currently stands.
8. What hours will the new WRF operate?
The facility will be continuously staffed and operating 24 hours per day, every day.
9. How will issues such as noise, odor, traffic, and light be managed?
The Town of Apex's ordinances will be applied to all activities including times for construction activities and limits to noise levels. All fixed sources of operational noise will be located at least 300- feet from the WRF property boundary and will be housed in buildings that contain sound reduction devices.
Odor control facilities will be provided at the WRF and at each of the pump stations. A 200-foot undisturbed forested buffer along the perimeter of the WRF will remain in place and aid in absorbing odor.
Construction traffic will be managed by the Town of Apex's ordinances that limit traffic through residential areas. Wherever possible, traffic will not travel along New Hill Holleman Road between US 1 and Old US 1. Contractors will be directed to use an alternate route that does not go through the Old US 1/New Hill Holleman Road intersection. On-site parking for contractors will be provided at the WRF.
Lighting aat the WRF will be directed toward the specific task and limited in the span of illumination. At night, lights will be turned on only when needed for safety and security. No permanent lights will be installed along the pipelines.
10. What kind of security will the facility have to help keep neighbors safe?
The entire facility site will be fenced with an automatic gate controlled remotely.