New Hanover County now has the information it needs to move forward on its plan to provide water and sewer services to the industrial U.S. 421 corridor.

At the commissioners’ meeting Monday morning, Tony Boahn, an engineer with the planning and engineering firm of McKim & Creed, presented the firm’s preliminary engineering report, saying that the project would cost an estimated $20.2 million and take about three years to complete.

Boahn said his team figured projections for water and sewer demand by future industries locating along the highway and recommended a phased approach to constructing a system that could eventually serve the area’s ultimate needs. Rather than committing the funds to build a system capable of handling 660,000-1 million gallons per day, which is the demand projected over the long term, he recommended a project that would handle 330,000 gallons per day of water – enough for the foreseeable future.

The county could later expand to meet future demand once officials see how rapidly the corridor is developing, Boahn said.

Installing wastewater service will involve collecting the waste and conducting it via pipe and pumping stations to the Cape Fear Public Utilities system across the Northeast Cape Fear River, he explained. He said there are two existing pipes under the river that could become part of this network.

If all the recommended pumping stations are built, Boahn said the estimated cost of providing wastewater service to the corridor is $12.1 million.

The second part of the project – providing water service to existing and future businesses along the highway – requires no new infrastructure, but will necessitate about 35,000 feet of additional pipe, Boahn said. He added that, while providing potable water to the area is important, providing water for fire protection is critical if the county wants to lure new businesses.

Of the estimated $8.1 million needed for the new water system, $4.1 million will be required for the fire flow.

The total project estimate of $20.2 million could be reduced by as much as $3.5 million by deferring construction of one or more pump stations, building just what would be needed for Phase I of the project, although Boahn recommended that the design and permitting steps include all pump stations.

Boahn said that, while the entire project could take less than 36 months, his team wanted to allow for the vagaries of permit and easement acquisition and possible need for wetlands mitigation.

County manager Chris Coudriet thanked the commissioners for ordering the analysis and estimates, so the county would understand what time and funds will be required for the project. He also told commissioners his staff recommended that they move ahead on the project “sooner rather than later.”

Once the board approves the project, Coudriet said, the completion date will be put on the county calendar so that businesses interested in locating along the U.S. 421 corridor can plan accordingly.

In the meantime, commissioners can expect to hear back from county staff in April, asking for a commitment that would allow county officials to negotiate an interlocal agreement with Cape Fear Public Utility Authority and possibly the city of Wilmington to work together on the project, Coudriet said.

The county manager also expressed pleasure at the news that commissioner Woody White and N.C. Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) pushed for language to be inserted in the newly approved Connect NC bond package that could enable the project to receive state funding.

“We have a way forward that no one would have imagined,” Coudriet said.