A $4.6 million water treatment plant expansion should meet the maximum demands of the city of Clinton until 2030, engineers told city officials during a recent meeting.

The proposed project consists of the expansion of the water treatment plant by 1.5 gallons per day, along with the construction of three new deep wells and three new shallow wells, with related piping. Additionally, a redundant water line would be built extending from the water treatment plant to the city.

“It would basically double the meat and potatoes of the plant,” said Chris Thomson, engineer with The Wooten Company.

A water system must meet the maximum daily demand (MDD). For a groundwater system, the supply equals the 12-hour well pumping rate and that MDD is the average of the two highest consecutive days’ demand.

Wooten Company engineers Thomson and Dan Boone told Council members during a meeting last week that the city’s 12-hour pumping rate should be more than the MDD, which is currently at about 3.2 million gallons per day. The 12-hour supply to the city’s water treatment plant stands at a little less than 3 million gallons per day, however it was also designed to be expanded by 1.5 million gallons per day — which would happen under the proposed project.

According to Sampson County census numbers, used to calculate maximum water usage, the expansion would be able to serve the MDD until about 2030. The plant is able to now meet the average daily demand, and could continue to do that for the same duration, but engineers said it was important to meet the maximum demand — and look forward.

With the proposed 1.5 million gallon per day expansion, the 12-hour water supply would be able to increase to 4.37 million gallons per day.

Also as part of the project, a redundant line would be constructed to be similar to one that currently runs along Clive Jacobs Road and Old Warsaw Road. That line is responsible for approximately 25 percent of the city’s water flow, city manager John Connet said.

“It’s the only way water gets into the city,” Connet said. “This would provide for some redundancy. We would have another line going through should that line be severed.”

The expansion would also provide short-term water capacity that could also be sold by the city, with more than the maximum demand being met, Thomson said.

Thomson said Smithfield Foods Inc. has expressed interest in having the ability to rest their two wells by purchasing water from the city, with a possible sale of 250,000 gallons per day initially and up to 1 million gallons per day, notably for emergencies. Officials said that can be done by pumping three of the city’s existing wells full time.

“We can currently provide that 1 million gallons, but cannot do it for an extended amount of time,” noted Connet.

City public works director Chris Doherty said two weeks’ time is where providing such interim water “starts to get taxing” on the city’s system. With an expansion, there would be plenty of leeway, and the city might be able to get some dollars while Smithfield keeps their system from being overburdened, Thomson said.

With a possible Smithfield Foods water purchase, the MDD numbers would change with them also taking on customer status, meaning the expansion would provide sufficient capacity until 2023.

Either way, the project would see the city increase its supply for at least 15 years to meet the MDD, engineers said.

According to Thomson, Smithfield will also benefit as they would be saving on capital costs to construct their own well. He said Smithfield might be willing to contribute toward funding the project.

It is a good time for that funding, said Thomson, noting that if city officials decided to move forward with the expansion now it would be doing so at the “most opportune time.”

“It’s a good solid time as far as USDA loans go,” he said.

USDA may provide up to a 45 percent grant and low interest on a loan.

An annual 100 percent loan payment would be $218,800. A 45 percent grant would mean an annual payment of $120,630, over 40 years.

Mayor Lew Starling expressed apprehension over entering into a long commitment.

“We would essentially be doubling the cost over 40 years,” the mayor said. “There’s a ton of interest in there.”

Connet said the loan could be paid back sooner, with the city likely having the option to set up its own debt schedule and make larger payments. Councilman Steve Stefanovich said he would be less willing to get on board with a lengthy commitment.

“It would be hard for me to vote a 40-year commitment,” Stefanovich remarked.

No vote was taken on the capital project. Connet said he wanted to merely have Wooten Company officials inform the Council what lied ahead.

“That’s a big number to any municipality,” said Thompson of the estimated $4.6 million project. “Although it is a costly project, it is an advantageous time to proceed with it.”