Brunswick County to repair sewer system

BOLIVIA, N.C. -- Brunswick County commissioners have agreed to an emergency takeover of the private sewer system at Brick Landing for at least three months to fix problems that are causing raw sewage to seep from the system's underground drain field and repair eight sinkholes that have developed along the sytem's lines.

The county's utilities department could begin the emergency work within days of receiving the temporary takeover notice from the N.C. Utilities Commission and the county board's approval of a plan of action, said Jerry Pierce, director of Brunswick's utilities department.

Pierce estimated that the system needs nearly $1 million of repairs to restore it to county standards, but said his emergency work will be limited to the money available from a $50,000 bond posted by the system's owner, CTC Brick Landing, and monthly bills to customers during the temporary takeover period.

The emergency work could include draining sludge from the private system's small treatment plant, repairing pump stations in the system and examining leaks believed to be causing the sinkholes, Pierce said. The amount of work done will be limited to the income the county would expect from the bond and monthly bills, he said.

Pierce said he is working on a cost estimate for the emergency repairs. The long-term solution to restore the system would cost an estimated $965,000.

A registered agent for CTC Brick Landding could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The system has approximately 330 customers, and Brick Landing property owners association President Ken Horton said it is still working although there are mounting problems. Backups from the system began about four or five years ago, he said, but until recently problems were small and intermittent.

"What we've seen is an increase in the difficulties," he said.

Pierce said it appears that lines around the sinkholes have cracked or broken and that stormwater and dirt are getting into it, adding to whatever other problems the system may have. He said the sinkholes are as much as 1 foot deep and 3 feet across. None is threatening homes.

Lines to the county sewer system adjoin Brick Landing property at two points, and Pierce said that the county will connect at one of those points in order to clear built-up sludge from the treatment plant. He said the system needs a new pump station and about 3,000 feet of force main to connect it permanently to the county's sewer system.

Horton said residents are concerned about how much the solutions will cost them, but added that it shouldn't be borne by other Brunswick County taxpayers. He said that the property owners association has sought information on state and federal grants that may be available to help fix the system, but has gotten no definitive answers yet.

Pierce said that if the county takes over the system permanently, it also will seek grants to help finance the cost. But he added that grants are increasingly tough to get with the downturn in the economy.

The Utilities Commission has assigned a monthly charge of $58.50 per customer for the emergency repairs, which is higher than what the county normally charges. But Pierce said he believes that the commission's rate is based on a higher monthly usage than Brunswick uses for its rates, which are typically $45 to $50 per month per customer.

Brunswick commissioners approved an agreement with CTC Brick Landing last year to take ownership of the system. Pierce said the agreement was contingent on CTC paying the county $225,100, building a new pump station and force main and posting a bond to guarantee that the work would be done in six months. None of the stipulations were met, Pierce said.

Pierce agreed the overall cost to repair that system is a concern. He said the cost could be met partially by grants, assessments to owners and/or the creation of a special rate district, if no other cost abatement is available.