JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- Major Gen. Robert C. Dickerson, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East, and Richlands Mayor Marvin Trott, the Onslow Water and Sewer Authority board of directors chairman, signed potable water and wastewater connection agreements at a ceremony at the ONWASA headquarters here Oct. 5.
The connection agreements will authorize the first physical connection of ONWASA infrastructure to existing facilities at Camp Lejeune and will allow for the future expansion of water and sewer services to Onslow County residents.
This agreement allows ONWASA to begin moving forward with planning and construction of a water line from Old Maplehurst Rd. to Marine Corps Air Station New River Water Treatment Plant and a wastewater force main from the Piney Green Pump Station to the Camp Lejeune Advance Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“The signing of these connection addendums is another example of Camp Lejeune and our local communities working together to improve the quality of life in Onslow County,” Dickerson said. “As 75 percent of military families live off Camp Lejeune in the local community, this equates to a win-win situation for all. These agreements will assist in providing adequate utility capacity that ultimately will ensure compatible growth while protecting our natural resources, particularly the New River, in the future. We are pleased to sign the addendums and look forward to continuing our long and productive relationship with ONWASA and the local communities.”
The signing of the agreement concluded several years of hard work and negotiations with Camp Lejeune, according to Trott.
“We have become the envy of other communities in North Carolina and in the nation,” said Trott.
Completion of the water line to MCAS New River is expected in about one year at a cost of approximately $1.8 million and will increase potable water capacity up to 500,000 gallons per day and serve 5,700 homes.
The wastewater force main along Piney Green is expected to be complete in fall 2008 with a total cost of approximately $18 million. The new force main will increase the wastewater treatment capacity up to two million gallons per day.
The projects are expected to be financed by a third revenue bond sale in 2006.
The signing of this connection will eliminate the need to build a new water treatment plant of equal capacity, which would cost approximately $40 million, according to Trott.
“If it wasn’t for [Dickerson’s] wisdom and advice, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” Trott said.