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CCUSA outlines $20M Otter River expansion, $35M pipe-replacement need as growth climbs
Summary
CCUSA staff told a joint workshop that water demand and recent development have placed major projects on the horizon, including a planned Otter River treatment-plant expansion to 6 MGD (est. 2033, ~$20M) and an asbestos-cement pipe replacement program (14 miles, est. $35M).
At a joint workshop with county supervisors, Campbell County Service Authority staff detailed the authority's near- and long-term water needs, laying out planned projects and cost estimates tied to recent growth in townhomes, apartments and commercial connections.
Jeff Wells, one of the presenters, said the system currently serves about 9,179 water connections across roughly 97 miles of distribution mains, with 10 tanks and two pump stations. He said the Otter River Water Treatment Plant is being tracked for expansion from its current 4.1 million gallons per day permitted capacity to about 6.0 million gallons per day, with the authority's best estimate putting that need around 2033 and an approximate cost of $20 million.
Wells also highlighted an asbestos-cement pipe replacement need: the authority identified about 14 miles of asbestos-cement pipe in its distribution system and estimated full replacement could cost in the range of $35 million (costs projected to 2040 assuming inflation). He said the authority would not replace all pipe at once but would track breaks and prioritize sections that demonstrate deterioration.
Staff reviewed smaller but still substantial projects that would require outside financing, including the Noblewoods waterline extension (engineering cost estimate reported at about $7.8 million) and network interconnect projects intended to increase redundancy and reduce outage dependence on neighboring systems.
Wells framed these projects against the county's comprehensive plan, saying utilities should be directed to where the county wants future growth to occur so infrastructure investments align with long-term land-use goals. The presentation emphasized that some figures are planning estimates, and staff noted work to firm up engineering reports and funding plans before advancing construction.
The authority does not have general-tax revenue to draw on; Wells said capital recovery fees and targeted grants or loans are the primary tools to pay for expansions. Staff identified several grant/loan sources they will pursue, and noted timelines such as multi-year engineering and permitting processes before construction would begin.
