Plant Operations

Water Plant

The Town of Blowing Rock operates a 2.0 MGD Water Treatment Plant which was constructed in 1978. The plant receives water from the Town’s pond on Brickhouse Creek. Backup sources include Chetola Lake and Bass Lake. The Water Treatment Plant has a capacity of 2.0 MGD. The plant is located along Routes 221/321 just south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The facility is a traditional treatment process including alum addition, flocculation, settling and filtration. Corrosion control is also utilized prior to distribution to the residents using phosphates.

The Town’s service area is entirely south of the Water Treatment Plant. Finished water is pumped to a high elevation, then allowed to gravity feed into the service area. The Green Hill tank, capacity 3.0 MGD, is the means of control at the highest point of the system. A number of Pressure Reducing Valves have been placed in the system to control maximum pressures for the residents. No water service from the Town of Blowing Rock is extended beyond Town limits.

The Town is actively looking for new water sources, which may prove to be more reliable in times of drought. Streamflow at the water intake is believed to be about 1.4 efs, or the equivalent of 0.9 MGD. In times of drought and high demand, the source may become inadequate in quantity. At this time, the Town of Blowing Rock is under a moratorium imposed by North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources restricting development, which would result in additional water service connections.

Prior to FY99-00, the Town contracted with a private firm, Hydro Management Services, Inc., for the operation of the Water Treatment Plan and the Wastewater Treatment Plant. However, when Hydro Management proposed at 51% increase in the annual contract fee, the Town let the contract expire and assumed responsibility for the operation of the two plants. The Town then hired the four employees that had operated the plants on behalf of Hydro Management.

Activity

There are over 2,500 water meters in the system. New meters are "touch read" meters, which are read electronically.

Wastewater Plant

The Town of Blowing Rock operates a Wastewater Treatment Plant very near the Water Treatment Plant and utilizes a discharge to the Middle Fork of New River. The plant is rated for capacity of 0.8 MGD, but could be expanded to a service capacity of 1.2 MGD. The original plant was constructed in 1960 and refurbished and expanded in 1989. The facility is fed by three sewer system lift stations that handle the entire volume of wastewater generated by the community. The facility is of concrete construction and is set up for extended aeration treatment without tertiary sand filtration. The plant is successful in meeting its permit requirements including 30 mg/l on a montly average of BOD, 30 mg/l on a monthly average of Total Suspended Solids and a limit of no less than 5.0 mg/l for dissolved oxygen. The operators sample everyday and also send samples out three times per week to remain in compliance.

The Town has been considering construction of a new Wastewater Treatment Plant to the south of Blowing Rock in Caldwell County. If such an initiative is under taken, one of the lift station areas would be diverted to the southern plant and the outfall would be in the Yadkin River Basin. The Town does not currently serve residents or others outside the Town limits. However, the treatment facility is in a suitable position to allow service along Route 221/321 north of the town toward the Town of Boone or toward the community area known as Aho, east of Route 221/321 corridor, one of the faster growing areas in the County.

Field Operations

Description and Responsibilities

The Field Operations division is responsible for all water and sewer taps, leak repair and water line installation. This department is also responsible for all water meter reading in the town on a bi-monthly basis. In addition, this department maintains the water distribution system and the wastewater collection system.

Staffing

The division employs three Heavy Equipment Operators and a ½ time employee that is shared with Public Works. They also use other employees, as needed, for the reading of water meters.