Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
January 31, 2008 issue
Story by Kathleen McFadden
Although it took some time to negotiate, representatives of the Town of Boone and Appalachian State University have signed a water interconnect agreement that provides emergency backup service to both systems—a key safety measure under normal circumstances and a potential lifesaver during drought conditions.
If either system experiences a water-disruption emergency, the online system, if it has excess water available, will provide water to the failed system to the maximum extent feasible.
In addition, the agreement gives the town the ability to purchase water from the university during peak usage periods, buying time for the town to expand its water supply.
According to Boone Town Manager Greg Young, the town is permitted to draw and treat 3 million gallons of water per day. However, if the town were to draw 80 percent of its capacity—2.4 million gallons per day for a five-day period—the state would require the town to begin the engineering work to expand its system. And if the town were to draw 90 percent of its capacity—2.7 million gallons per day for a five-day period—the state would impose a moratorium on water connections.
For months, the Boone Town Council has discussed the acquisition of a new water source in closed session, but even after identifying and securing such a source, bringing a new water treatment plant online would require significant time and many millions of dollars.
For that reason, the ability to obtain water from ASU’s system during times of peak demand to lessen the amount of water the town has to draw and treat from the New River will provide a way to extend the town’s ability to provide new water connections while the council and town staff work on long-term expansion plans.
Essentially, the agreement calls for a trade-off of sorts. The town currently supplies water to five Appalachian properties. Any water the town “purchases” during peak usage times will be handled as a credit to Appalachian’s water accounts.
An April 2005 estimate of the cost of the interconnection was $244,000. Prices have increased in the interim, but the current estimate was not available at press time. The agreement calls for the town and university to equally share the cost of the interconnection. For the past two years, the town council has budgeted capital money in anticipation of the agreement.
“I think it’s a great thing to have an emergency interconnect,” Young said. “It aids both parties in an emergency.” In addition, Young continued, “It helps the town to be able to buy water and to shave peaks. This can help us in the short term, but the true long-term solution is a new water intake.”