Robbins Studies Water Proposal From County

As of Friday, April 29, 2011

Robbins is considering a proposal by Moore County for inclusion in a new water district.

A regional plan that would take advantage of Robbins' plentiful water sources could give town residents lower rates, serve West End and Seven Lakes and make both the town and county less dependent on other counties for water.

The one question on the mind of every Robbins town commissioner was whether the county would include all its water infrastructure - meaning take over wastewater as well as water supply. If that could be done, Robbins would be free of limitations on town growth because of requirements that it provide all town services to any newly annexed areas.

The Northwest Moore Water District (NWMWD) was formed in 2004. Voters approved a $16 million bond issue. But construction of the system was delayed because too few possible customers signed up to generate enough revenue to fund it.

Recently, the Moore County Board of Commissioners agreed to extend that $16 million bond issue. Those bonds are still available and can legally be extended for another three years, pending approval by the Local Government Commission.

The Robbins Town Board took a first look at the county proposal at a recent work session and will go over it in detail to formulate a written response at a May 5 special meeting. Three commissioners at the work session were positive about the county's offer, and all wanted more time to read it carefully before making any official response.

The new idea overcomes problems from too small a customer base by combining towns. Using 2,600 customers from Seven Lakes/West End and adding 640 customers from Robbins, the proposed combined district would then be large enough to support the new system. It would result in a water district encompassing the existing NWMWD, the town of Robbins, and the Seven Lakes voting precinct.

"This proposal has several contingencies that must be established by consensus or by required commitments in order to accomplish the successful implementation of the district," the county said. "Acceptance of the proposal to join together to form a viable NWMWD will require an initial resolution by each of the three boards agreeing."

The county proposes to combine all water facilities in the Seven Lakes water system that encompasses Seven Lakes West, North and South, McLendon Hills and West End.

Those facilities include some 66 miles of ductile iron and PVC water pipe, two elevated water towers (both completely rehabilitated since 2008), a booster pump station and the entire customer base located in those areas listed above. There is presently no debt associated with the Seven Lakes system.

For its part, Robbins would then agree to include all water facilities in town. That would include Robbins' water lines both in and out of town, three elevated water storage towers and the customer base of the Robbins water system.

Includes Reservoir

According to the county proposal, the town's reservoir and its raw water impoundment and intake structure would be included - though the proposal did not specify whether that "inclusion" would be by deed or by lease.

The 2009 McGill water study indicated that the Charles B. Brooks reservoir would need $123,000 and the town's raw water intake and pump station $273,000 in improvements to become minimally operational. Existing debt service on the Robbins water and sewer system is about $100,000 a year, according to the McGill report.

The county proposes to build a treatment plant near the reservoir that would have a capacity of 1.5 million gallons per day at an estimated $8.5 million cost and construct a booster station and water line of sufficient size to serve Seven Lakes from the Robbins system for another estimated $3.6 million, bringing the total expenditure to about $12.1 million, including necessary repairs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could lend money for the required improvements through its Rural Development funds.

"The USDA can loan the district the necessary funds in order to construct the required improvements," the county proposal says. "Terms are basically at market rate interest, but for a 40-year term. The $16 million approved by the voters must be spent by May 2014."

That means all construction would have to be substantially complete by that date.

Two existing grants are also available. Robbins has one for $433,700, and Moore County one for $477,900.

These funds could be rolled into the project if the Robbins board passes a resolution to allow the new district to use these funds and the county commission passes a resolution agreeing to apply its funds to the project.

The county would then contract to operate the water business in areas served by NWMWD, including all maintenance of equipment, pumps and other equipment supply necessary operators and administrative personnel, read water meters, bill customers, receive payments and generally perform the functions of the district.

Impact on Rates

The Robbins commissioners said they wanted to know in more detail what they could expect rates to be, if this comes about.

The proposal suggests a base rate of $17 a month (based on 3,240 customers) but stops short of predicting the cost per 1,000 gallons. It does not say what the final rate might be.

If Robbins' overall rate "may" be reduced, the commissioners said they would like to know more about how much it could drop.

They also said they would like to know whether the town can keep title to its reservoir, which affects the town's borrowing ability, and whether it can get out of the water business altogether by joining this regional plan.

Contact John Chappell at jfchappell@gmail.com.

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ncsnafu1 2 years ago

It seemed pretty clear to me after reading the county proposal that the Robbins reservior and raw water impoundment would go to the proposed NMWD via deed. These two items are the only real tangible contribution Robbins is being asked to the district as the existing WTP and infrastructure serving the Robbins customer base have negible value.

There was no mention in the proposal for the new district to assume the Robbins sanitary sewer operation for two good reasons. First, assuming the operation would create an unnecessary obligation on the district to provide similiar service through out the district. Second, the district proposed is the North Moore Water District (NMWD) and not the NMDW and Robbins sewer plant.

The Commissioners have many unanswered questions before them with one being: where is the expense of the originally planned water distribution network in any of the current plans? This cost, when the bond was initially approved, was approximately $16M although it is now absent from any of the costs shown to date. At some point in time, the true finances of the propsed district must be presented which hopefully will be BEFORE Seven Lakes and Robbins residents are asked to vote on joining.

Zoey 2 years ago

"negible value"

ncsnafu1, You make it sound as if Robbins is giving the county the short end of the stick. I beg to differ. I think that if Robbins is willing to share 'their water', the least the county could do is take over the Robbin's sewage facility. If not, let the commisioners find water via other counties.To whose benefit is it really? Could I have your opinion on who needs who more?

"originally planned water distribution network"

Odd, there is no mention of the Ritter, Bensalem, Deep River and Sheffield(excluding Robbins) townships in this article. Do the current plans exclude these areas too? Is the BOC only looking loans not grants anymore? Do the plans show initial infrastucture heading due South, since the article introduced "West End" into the equation?

Excuse my pessimistic attitude, but this just doesn't seem right. As always, I apperciate your comments and insight...

ncsnafu1 2 years ago

@Zoey: A little discussed fact now is that the supply of water, via current facilities, from Robbins is limited and does not support the long term needs of Northern Moore County. To supply these needs an inlet to the Deep River would be needed. Although not impossible, this inlet would be a nightmare in terms of obtaining permitting not to mention its cost. Robbins needs to understand that they are NOT the only source of water available which dispells any belief that it's a take it or leave it situation wrt their supply of water. Another source of water is readily available from Asheboro which has an advantage in terms of cost and ability to serve the megapark inaddition to the Seven Lakes area. Your reference of the townships not included is partially correct in that the land area is included, however, none of the originally planned distribution network to the homes is included. This is the point I spoke to the commissioners about. How can there be a true NMWD when its planned to only include Robbins and the Seven Lakes area??? I maintain my position that the current Robbins>Seven Lakes plan is being done simply to take advantage of the 2004 approved bond with little analysis done to support it. The commissioners have another option for supplying Seven Lakes which is the extension of the Rt. 73 line which for unknown reason is not being discussed.

MooreNorth 2 years ago

The County needs to develop all surface water supply, with in the county, that it can. Depending on outside sources for water comes with a fair amount of risk. Robbins found that out when the Robbins Mill burned. At some point, it would be beneficial to the county as a whole, if the water systems were tied together in some fashion. The proposed NWMD does include the areas mentioned above. Not just Robbins and Seven Lakes. This water source also has room to grow. If you think permitting for an inlet off Deep River would be a nightmare now, just wait a few years. NCSPIN had a water symposium awhile back, see if you can get a DVD copy. After you watch that you may look on this with different eyes. The key is the availability . If you don't have it you can't grow, and if you can't grow, you just slowly fade away. Much like the once booming Town of Hemp.

ncsnafu1 2 years ago

@MooreNorth: Agree that in an ideal world that there would be one water system in the county. Unfortunately, given the multitude of different systems owners, the likelihood of ever seeing one system is slim to none.

I agree that the currently favored plan (Robbins > Seven Lakes) includes the AREA of the townships, however, it does not include the expense for the distribution network to serve the townships. One look at the estimated plan costs easily verifies this omission.

The McGill study from 2007 reports that the current Robbins supply inlet is indeed limited by stream flow which was the basis for my earlier statement wrt the plant not supplying the long term needs of the northern part of the county. I acknowledge that the planned treatment plant could be expanded to meet demand, however, an inlet on the Deep would be needed to take advantage of the increased WTP capacity.

difflook 2 years ago

No secret that Robbins needs this to happen so the County can take over the Wastewater plant debt. Otherwise, water rates will continue to have to rise to pay it. The Water District would have the customer base to obtain loans/grants for expansion that the town could not. Also, it is in Robbins best interest, because now they are at the mercy of Montgomery County, since it is supplying the ONLY water to the town through the line through Spies, The Robbins water plant hasnt operated in years, and i doubt Robbins would have the funds to start it, and from news it is too old. Seems all postives for Robbins, water district take over debt, new water plant, another source of water , and im sure the County would pay them some amount so they could replenish their Fund balance, Since no other options for a buyer or a merger, hope they take this one!

ncsnafu1 2 years ago

@difflook: You hit the nail on the head that the proposed plan is in the best interest of Robbins. Unfortunately, the track history of the current mayor and council suggests that they will reject the plan as they (Robbins) won't have control.