https://www.deq.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/05/07/permit-issued-clear-creek-wastewater-treatment-plant The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) has approved a permit for the Clear Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Henderson County. The final permit was updated from the draft version to include more restrictive limits for certain pollutants and a limit on the plant’s maximum sewage treatment capacity. Henderson County proposed the new wastewater treatment plant to serve existing residential and commercial properties in the unincorporated community of Edneyville as well as connecting three other nearby package plants. The proposed location is in Henderson County on half an acre off Fruitland Road, and the proposed discharge will be to Clear Creek, a class C stream in the French Broad River Basin. Clear Creek is listed as impaired for benthos on the 2022 North Carolina 303(d) list. DWR’s public engagement process included a comment period and a public hearing held on Feb. 5. During the review process, DWR determined more information was needed to ensure the proposed discharge would be protective of the downstream water quality at both Clear Creek and Mud Creek, which is downstream of Clear Creek. After considering comments received during the public engagement process and other factors, DWR approved a permit with some changes, including: maximum treatment capacity of 200,000 gallons per day;
more stringent limits for five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and ammonia nitrogen to ensure protection of downstream water quality;
a required annual study of in-stream impacts to biological integrity after discharge begins.
Based on an information request, Henderson County updated its cost analysis for the project, projecting the updated cost at $11.8 million after the addition of a filtration system needed to meet more stringent limits on pollution in the plant’s discharge. The hearing officer’s report, which includes recommendations on the permit and a summary of comments received during the public hearing and comment period, as well as additional documents, can be found online. -------------------------------------------------------- The Henderson County Board of Commissioners are soliciting engineering services of highly qualified firms for the design, acquisition, permitting, and administration of construction for the proposed Clear Creek Sewer System's wastewater treatment plant and collection system The firm will design, assist in right of way acquisition, permit, and administer the construction of the proposed system's wastewater treatment plant and collection system. Of course, any development of the wastewater plant is pending approval of a NPDES permit which is anticipated over the next several months. A very preliminary layout of the plant and collection system layout is included at the end of this document Project Schedule: Shall include a proposed project schedule. The design, acquisition, permitting and construction must be completed and invoiced by November 30, 2026
to comply with ARPA funding requirements. The County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive technicalities and to be the sole judge of suitability of the services for its intended use as allowed by law and further specifically reserves the right to make the award in the best interest of the County
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