Randolph County backs regional wastewater planning, approves interlocal deal with Asheboro

Randolph County commissioners on April 6 approved a resolution backing regional wastewater planning and authorized an interlocal agreement with the City of Asheboro to extend water and sewer infrastructure to parts of eastern Randolph County.

The board heard a briefing from Greg Flores of the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority, who said a recent study (issued January 2026) identified substantial future needs for water and wastewater infrastructure in the Deep River basin and the broader Carolina Core. Flores said the authority’s partners are considering projects that include a $150 million advanced‑treatment (reverse‑osmosis) investment to remove emerging contaminants such as PFAS and 1,4‑dioxane and to improve regional resilience.

Commissioners and staff cited projected population and industrial growth and upcoming tighter nutrient limits as the chief drivers for regional planning. Chair (speaker 1) said Randolph County’s representative and the county are engaged in the process and stressed the urgency of planning to avoid future capacity constraints. The board voted in favor of a resolution supporting the authority’s findings and to permit the authority to continue regional work on wastewater solutions; commissioners emphasized the resolution does not commit the county to funding.

The meeting also included a lengthy presentation and discussion of an interlocal agreement with the City of Asheboro. County Manager Zeb Holden and Asheboro staff explained the agreement would connect public water to eastern Randolph County, improve sustainability of failing small systems (notably in the Seagrove area), and help avoid cost escalation by keeping a contractor mobilized on a time‑sensitive project. The county noted state infrastructure dollars (including prior allocations) would fund parts of the work and that the agreement was presented as contingent on Asheboro’s approval. The board approved the interlocal agreement by a majority vote.

The county recorded that previous state appropriations directed to regional infrastructure are being used for these projects and that the interconnection will provide backup capacity during outages and better circulation of water to reduce stagnation risks. The board’s votes followed discussion about timing, contractor mobilization costs, and how expanded lines could support future growth and resilience.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the county’s actions under the interlocal agreement contingent upon Asheboro’s final approval and continue coordination with PTRWA on study implementation, outreach, and funding strategies.