The North Carolina Utilities Commission (“Commission”) recently approved Pluris’ acquisition of the former Webb Creek Water and Sewer Company, Inc. utility located near Jacksonville, North Carolina. The Commission issued Pluris Webb Creek, LLC a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity “CPCN”, granting Pluris the service area along with the service area of an adjacent community known as The Pines. In a separate action, the Onslow County Board of Commissioners approved a Special Use Permit allowing Pluris to build its third advanced membrane bio-reactor wastewater treatment facility to replace the former owner’s failing treatment plant. The combined CPCN area serves a population of nearly 5,000 residents.
Prior to the acquisition Pluris served as the Emergency Operator of the utility after having been formally appointed by an August 2016 Commission Order. The appointment became necessary after more than 400 state and federal environmental violations being incurred by the prior utility. As the Emergency Operator, Pluris was required to bring the aged plant into temporary environmental compliance until a new water reclamation facility could be brought online.
Pluris contemplates 11 months to complete the facility once construction begins. The new facility will be Pluris’ third advanced membrane bio-reactor (“MBR”) water reclamation facility in North Carolina. In an effort to reduce costs associated with the new MBR facility, Pluris is designing the footprint in an area immediately adjacent to the existing aged plant, to be decommissioned following completion of the new MBR facility.
The aerial photograph below shows the location of the new MBR water reclamation facility relative to the old plant.
As with the existing Pluris MBR treatment facilities in North Carolina, the Webb Creek facility will treat wastewater to the highest quality level within North Carolina. Pluris’ membranes filter down to 0.04 microns with resulting effluent near drinking water quality according to statements by North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality management.
Webb Creek customers are encouraged to contact Randy Hoffer, Regional Manager with any questions regarding the new advanced MBR water reclamation facility. Randy can be reached via email at [email protected] or by telephone during normal business hours at 910.218.7652.
