2024 Capital Improvements Plan - Final

10 2024 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PREPARED FOR THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RS Butch Lawter , Jr , Chairman PLAN Patrick E Harris , Vice Chairman Tony Braswell Public Utilities Department Ted G Godwin Fred J Smith , Jr Richard D Braswell April Stephens Rick J Hester , County Manager FEBRUARY 2024PageJohnston County Department of Public Utilities Mission Statement To provide the citizens of Johnston County efficient , affordable , friendly services of Water Supply Wastewater Collection and Treatment Reclaimed Water Stormwater Management Regulatory Sediment and Erosion Control Buffer Regulation ProgramPageTable of Contents Executive Summary Tab 1 - Background Information Tab 2 - Growth Projections Tab 3 - Water Distribution Tab 4 - Water Supply Tab 5 - Wastewater Collection Tab 6 - Wastewater Treatment Tab 7 - Reclaimed Water Distribution Tab 8 - Financial Analysis Tab 9 - Public Hearing and Board of Commissioners Meeting MinutesPageGlossary of Terms ARPA - American Rescue Plan Act , funds allocated to States for Covid - 19 recovery efforts BPS - Booster Pump Station CIP - Capital Improvements Plan CWSRF - Clean Water State Revolving Fund , an EPA program administered by the Division of Water Infrastructure , North Carolina Department of Environment Quality DBP - Disinfection byproduct - Disinfection byproducts DBPs form when disinfectants used to treat drinking water react with naturally occurring organic materials in the water eg , decomposing plant material These byproducts , if consumed in excess of EPAs standard over many years , may lead to increased health risks DWI - Division of Water Infrastructure , the funding arm of NC Department of Environment Quality DWSRF - Drinking Water State Revolving Fund , an EPA program administered by the Division of Water Infrastructure , North Carolina Department of Environment Quality EDA - Economic Development Administration , a federal loan and grant program EPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency , administers the Clean Water Act CWA and the Safe Drinking Water Act SDWA GPM - Gallons per MinutePagePage pageNumber5Inch - Mile - the number of miles of gravity sewer in each diameter multiplied by the diameter in inches and totaled LCRR - Lead & Copper Rule Revision , a major revision to the Lead & Copper adopted by EPA and effective December 2021 LF - Linear Feet NC DEQ - North Carolina Department of Environment Quality MGD - Million Gallons per Day NC DWI - North Carolina Division of Water Infrastructure , NC DENR - Administers various State and Federal funding programs NC DENR - North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources NPDES - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System , a federal permitting program that regulates the discharge of treated wastewater into the nation's waters PFOS PFOA - Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Perfluorooctanoic Acid - a group of manufactured chemical compounds used since the 1940s in such things as fire and stain retardants on household textiles , non - stick cookware , firefighting materials , food packaging , personal care products , and cleaning products They are ubiquitous in our environment and make it into our drinking water and our wastewater They are known to have adverse health effects on a number of human systems An EPA rule establishing drinking water limits is expected to be finalized in the Fall of 2024 Regulations for biosolids and ambient water quality are expected be released in the upcoming few years PagePage pageNumber6PWS and PWSS - Public Water Supply Section of the Division of Water Resources , NC Department of Environment Quality RCW - Reclaimed Water - highly treated wastewater effluent utilized for beneficial uses in lieu of drinking and environmental water sources , such as irrigation , fire protection , toilet flushing , and cooling USDA RD - United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Service , a federal loan and grant program WTP - Water Treatment Plant WWPS - Wastewater Pump Station WWTF - Wastewater Treatment FacilityPagePage pageNumber7List of Source Studies Johnston County Public Utilities 2022 Capital Improvements Plan by Johnston County Public Utilities Johnston County Water Demand Projections , 2021 Johnston County Sewer Demand Projections , 2021 Johnston County Local Water Supply Plan , 2020 Regional Biosolids Management Evaluations Final Report , March 2012 2018 Update to the Johnston County Water Distribution Planning Document by Hazen and Sawyer , Final Report Engineering Report Update - Johnston County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility , by Hazen and Sawyer , March 2020 Revised Basis of Design Report - Johnston County Department of Public Utilities Landfill Wastewater Equalization Pretreatment Study , November 1 , 2018 Johnston County's Water System Emergency Response Plan in Compliance with the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 , By Dewberry Engineers , Certified September 29 , 2020 Johnston County's Source Water Resiliency and Response Plan , By Dewberry Engineers , Certified September 30 , 2020PagePage pageNumber8Johnston County Water & Sewer SDF Fee Study for Fiscal Year 2024 by Willdan Financial Services Workpapers , June 6 , 2023 Feasibility Report for the County of Johnston Water & Sewer System Revenue Bonds , Series 2023 , by Wildan Financial Services , May 2023 2021 - 22 Draft Johnston County Long Range Water Supply Plan by Hazen and SawyerPagePage pageNumber9Executive Summary The goal of this capital improvements plan is to present a detailed strategic long - term guide for implementing water and wastewater system improvements to meet the County's needs throughout a twenty - year planning period The County assembled the plan with information from a variety of reports as listed in the " List of Source Studies " The plan projects the impact of the proposed improvements on the twenty - year budget outlook used in recommending recent rate increases The County should re - evaluate and update this capital improvements plan periodically to adjust to changing system needs , technologies , and construction costs The Johnston County Board of Commissioners adopted the last plan on April 18 , 2022 Capital improvement plans should be updated every one to five years New regulations SL 2018 - 34 related to system development fees SDFs makes having an up - to - date and comprehensive capital improvement plan imperative Utilities use capital improvement plans to predict the cost of adding new capacity to a system The utility can use this data to adopt SDFs to ensure growth pays for growth to the extent possible within the system Challenges The County is facing issues such as record setting population growth , extreme weather , supply chain issues , and new regulations that have precipitated the need to update the plan Johnston County experienced a 279 growth in population between 2010 and 2020 , according to the latest release of data by the US Census Bureau , earning the County the title of fastest growing county in the State during that period This growth has depleted the County's excess water and sewer capacity During October 2016 , Hurricane Matthew caused significant flooding in Johnston County , including completely inundating the County's Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility The County's plan to expand wastewater capacity on - site was called into question After a study of the increasing floodplain boundaries near the existing plant , the County developed a new plan to move the facility in phases to a new site adjacent to the County's Landfill This plan to relocate the plant impacts the County's wastewater collection system's planned improvements , as well Johnston County Public Utilities Executive Summary - 1 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage0Construction costs have stabilized after a period of tremendous volatility However , supply chain issues still remain Long lead times on electrical and control gear have extended project times New water quality regulations from the EPA focusing on lead and copper and Per and Polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS in drinking water have added significant requirements on our water treatment and distribution system Demands Johnston County Public Utilities completed current and future wastewater demand analyses Hazen and Sawyer are currently working with the County on a long term water supply plan As part of that effort , they updated the County's predicted water system demand for the next 40 years County staff used the near - term projections to update the County's water model and recommend capital projects Proposed Improvements Using projected demands , modeling results and staff inputs , a list of necessary capital improvement projects was developed in four categories - water supply , water distribution , wastewater treatment and wastewater collection Reclaimed water improvements are included in the wastewater collection category Capital project needs for the Public Utilities Department are estimated at 971,783,519 over the twenty - year planning period and is summarized below in 5 year increments Estimated Improvement Costs FY Time Water Water Wastewater Wastewater Frame Supply Distribution Treatment Collection RCW TOTAL 2024 - 29 274,958,819 101,654,900 51,770,000 68,908,400 497,292,119 2030 - 34 77,150,000 59,586,400 62,150,000 22,150,000 221,036,400 2035 - 39 135,700,000 24,895,000 350,000 9,250,000 170,195,000 2040 - 44 4,850,000 5,710,000 65,200,000 7,500,000 83,260,000 TOTAL 492,658,819 191,846,300 179,470,000 107,808,400 971,783,519 Financing The County will pursue outside funding , as well as increase user charges periodically to fund the proposed projects without overburdening the customer base The County will continue to partner with the NC Division of Water Infrastructure NC DWI to the extent possible to fund the County's infrastructure needs NC DWI administers the State Revolving Loan Program funded by EPA , as well as exciting new opportunities made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Johnston County Public Utilities Executive Summary - 2 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage1Investment and Jobs Act , both adopted in 2021 In 2021 , the County's Public Utilities Department issued their first revenue bonds to fund a suite of water and sewer projects The department's initial bond rating was strong AA + by S & P Global and Aa2 by Moody's Investors Service , allowing the County to take advantage of historically low bond interest rates In 2022 , the Public Utilities Enterprise Funds maintained their favorable bond rating , while issuing a second round of revenue bonds to fund additional projects The historic investment in infrastructure could not come at a better time for the County Since large sections of the County's existing infrastructure are reaching their designed capacity , the County needs major investments in water and sewer infrastructure within the next five years Almost half of the proposed project cost is concentrated on the first five years of the plan Finding long term financing for these projects allows a model where growth better pays for growth System development fees from new development and capacity fees from bulk customers are collected when the flow is ready to be sent to the County However , capacity must be available before the flow arrives , leaving the County to leverage those costs until the fees can be collected Grants and low interest and long term financing are a critical way for the County to limit the financial stress of the cost of capacity building projects for existing customers A model created by Willdan Financial Services gives the County a critical tool to effectively plan future rate increases Creative financing and rate increases will both be necessary to meet the growing needs in the County's water and sewer systems Tab 8 includes the most recent rate model and SDF Fee study results Recent County initiatives , such as the update to the Land Use Plan and the Utility Regionalization Study , may precipitate the need for near term plan revisions In addition , the County may need to add projects in the near future to meet the new Lead & Copper Rule Revision , the new and upcoming PFAS PFOA regulations , and other potential new regulations This report is divided into tabs , each with a specific focus , to allow the reader to skip to a section of interest as needed Johnston County Public Utilities Executive Summary - 3 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage2TAB 1 - Background Information Description of Project Area Land Area Configurations Johnston County lies in central North Carolina in the transition zone between the Piedmont Plateau and the Coastal Plain It shares borders with Wake , Harnett , Sampson , Wayne , Wilson , Nash , and Franklin Counties The Neuse River travels diagonally across the County from north to southeast and is its most prominent waterway The County is cross - sectioned by I - 95 , US 70 , US 301 , and I - 40 Major State roadways crossing the County are NC 42 , NC 210 , NC 50 , NC 39 , NC 231 , NC 222 , NC 242 , and NC 96 Both CSX and Norfolk Southern have railways crossing the County Municipalities The County includes eleven municipalities Archer Lodge , Clayton , Wilson's Mills , Smithfield , Four Oaks , Selma , Pine Level , Benson , Micro , Princeton , and Kenly The County seat is Smithfield Government The County is governed by a duly elected seven - member Board of Commissioners The Board employs a County Manager to oversee daily operations of its departments and carry out policy set by the Board The services described in this Capital Improvement Plan are all within the responsibilities of the Department of Public Utilities Department of Public Utilities Organization Johnston County Department of Public Utilities manages the water , wastewater , reclaimed water , and heavy utility maintenance and light utility construction needs of the County The department is headed by the Director of Utilities , Chandra Farmer The Director of Utilities role is a department head position appointed by the County Manager Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 1 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage3Under the Director are a deputy director and managerial positions for water and wastewater treatment , construction and maintenance , water distribution , electrical and control systems , customer service , utility construction , and engineering The Public Utilities Department currently has 102 active positions supporting a wide variety of roles The County's Finance Department oversees accounting for the Public Utilities Department and the County Attorney provides legal services The Public Utilities department is budgeted under a collection of enterprise funds maintained separately from the County's general fund budget Operation and maintenance are funded entirely through user fees Capital improvements are funded through user fees , SDF fees , loans , bonds , and grants Demographics Johnston County's growth rate of 279 between 2010 and 2020 earned the title of fastest growing county in the State , according to the latest release of data for redistricting by the US Census Bureau The report indicates that Johnston County had 215,999 residents at the time of the 2020 census Johnston County has a high percentage of young people , and only 741 percent of residents are 18 years of age and older The US Census Bureau Quick Facts from July 1 , 2022 , estimates the July 1 , 2022 , population of the County at 234,778 living in 91,846 housing units Approximately 70 of the population was estimated to be citizens of voting age 18 years of age or older The 2021 Median Household Income MHI was estimated at 66,026 with 118 percent of residents living in poverty ACS Demographics - 2022 ACS 1 - Year Estimates Data Profiles Total population 234,778 White 167,377 Black or African American 44,662 American Indian and Alaska Native 3,719 Asian 3,862 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 Some Other Race 33,621 Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 2 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage4Description of Existing Facilities General Status Water System Johnston County provides potable water supply to sixteen water districts , and the Towns of Clayton , Wilson's Mills , Archer Lodge , Kenly , Princeton , and Four Oaks The County provides supplemental supplies to the Towns of Selma , Pine Level , Micro , Benson , Smithfield , and Fuquay - Varina in Wake County The County's Water Treatment Plant WTP is centrally located in Wilson's Mills Its source is the Neuse River The intake and treatment facility are located one half mile east of the Town of Wilson's Mills There are two reservoirs on site Each reservoir has a storage capacity of 35 million gallons The treatment system has six main steps to remove and reduce harmful contaminants presedimentation , organic carbon removal through magnetic ion exchange , coagulation , clarification , filtration by multimedia high - rate filters , and disinfection Once treatment is complete , water is pumped into elevated storage tanks for distribution throughout the water system In 1996 , the County constructed a treatment plant with 4 mgd capacity The County expanded the plant to 80 mgd in 2000 , 100 mgd in 2004 , 120 mgd in 2008 , and 14 MGD in 2021 In 2017 , the County completed a project to add a fourth filter group to the plant creating the necessary redundancy to allow for the rehabilitation of filter group No 1 A current project will expand the plant's treatment capacity to 18 mgd in 2025 In 2011 , the plant was modified to accommodate a magnetic ion exchange MIEX pretreatment process to enhance water quality With the addition of the MIEX pretreatment modifications , the plant divided to produce two different water products Water pretreated with magnetic ion exchange is disinfected with free chlorine and sent to the northeastern , eastern , and southern sections of the County Johnston East PWS ID 04 - 51 - 018 Water sent to the western side of the distribution system is disinfected with chloramines Johnston West PWS ID 03 - 51 - 070 In addition to supply from its WTP , the county purchases water for distribution to its customers from Smithfield , Harnett County , Raleigh , Wayne Water Districts , Wilson , Sampson County , and under emergency conditions , the Town of Benson Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 3 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage5Under water purchase and management agreements , the County provides water supply , system maintenance , customer account and billing services to each of the County's sixteen water districts As of September of 2023 , the County serves approximately 43,300 active residential customers , 2,080 flat rate residential customers , and 1,100 non - residential customers through its water district programs In addition , the County supplies approximately 380 irrigation connections A map of the water districts is provided in this tab All customers are subject to the " Uniform Rules for Water Districts and Retail Water Facilities " and the " Johnston County Water and Sewer Policies " The most current version of both of these documents may be viewed at wwwjohnstonncgov under the Public Utilities department heading Charges for retail water service are currently based on a monthly base fee of 2300 and a commodity charge of 465 per 1,000 gallons Johnston County has a conservation water rate structure for water customers where the fee for residential water consumption over 4,000 gallons per month is 570 1,000 gallons and increases with additional usage In - ground irrigation usage is billed at 600 1000 gallons The average monthly residential water bill use of 5,000 gallons per month is 4730 or 075 of the 2022 estimated median household income 75,228 The County's distribution system includes 1,917 miles of water lines , 16 elevated storage tanks , 93 master meters , and 18 booster pump stations A map of the County's water system is provided in this tab Wastewater System The Central Johnston County Regional Wastewater Facility CJCR WWTF treats wastewater from the Towns of Smithfield , Selma , Four Oaks , Wilson's Mills , Pine Level , and Clayton County facilities also extend to and serve the East Clayton Industrial Area , the Cleveland community , NC 42 area east of the Neuse River , the McGee's Crossroads area , the Devil's Racetrack area , and the Meadow School area The Central Johnston County Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant is located along the Neuse River in south Smithfield The plant is a tertiary facility designed to treat 95 million gallons per day to the Neuse River The treatment processes consist of primary screening , activated sludge with biological nutrient removal , secondary clarification , denitrification filtration , and ultraviolet light disinfection Additionally , the plant stabilizes and dewaters biological sludge for disposal in the County's lined landfill facility and contracts with a third party for disposal at an out of County regional landfill facility Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 4 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage6The 210 WWTF is currently under construction The initial construction includes three projects one for the main treatment process , a second for the biosolids handling , and a third for the effluent FM and dechlorination facility The 210 WWTF is expected to be fully operational and rated for 4 MGD by the summer of 2024 Design and permitting of an expansion project to a rating of 8 MGD is underway Construction on the expansion project is expected to begin in the second half of 2024 The County's wastewater discharge is permitted under NPDES Permit # NC0030716 The permit covers two treatment facilities Both facilities discharge treated water into the Neuse River near the Central Johnston County Regional WWTF CJCRWWTF in south Smithfield The latest version of the permit was issued on May 21 , 2021 The permit includes discharge limitations and monitoring requirements for 115 mgd of discharge from the CJCRWWTF and limits for a combination of 75 mgd of discharge from the CJCRWWTF and 4 mgd a new 210 WWTF A modification of the permit is under consideration by the Department of Environmental Quality that will allow the County to discharge 16 mgd 8 MGD from each facility and later 18 mgd 6 from the CJCRWWTF and 12 from the 210 WWTF of treated wastewater The County also treats by - product process water NPDES Permit # NC0084735 from the County's water filtration plant in Wilson's Mills This facility consists of a surge decanting tank , solids thickener , belt filter press , and fine solids polishing basins with the effluent dechlorinated prior to discharge to the Neuse River These processes are located on the water plant site Dewatered residual solids are disposed of in the County Landfill The County operates and maintains a system of sewer interceptors that extend through Smithfield to the CJCR WWTF Wastewater from Pine Level , Selma , and potions of the County's collection system is pumped into these interceptors Wastewater from Four Oaks is transferred to the CJCR WWTF through a series of force mains and interceptors involving three 3 pumping stations or can be directly pumped to Benson Each town is responsible for operating its own collection system Wastewater from the other areas identified above is pumped to the County's treatment facility The County's collection system includes approximately 174 miles of force main from 2 " - 24 " in diameter , 149 miles of gravity sewer lines , approximately 3,783 manholes , and 65 pump stations The County provides retail sewer service to approximately 8,220 residential and 500 commercial sewer customers as of September of 2023 Residential sewer customers pay a monthly base fee of 3200 in addition to a commodity charge of 760 per 1,000 gallons The average monthly residential sewer bill is Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 5 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage7 4650 or 117 of the 2022 median household income MHI The average combined water and sewer bill for residential customers is 10130 or 111 of the 2022 MHI 75 , 288 A map of the County's wastewater collection system is provided in this tab Reclaimed Water The County operates a reclaimed water system Permit # WQ0019632 consisting of a 10 mg clearwell , chlorination system , an 1,800 gpm supply pump station , a 05 mg elevated tank , approximately 79,475lf of 12 " - 24 " transmission mains , 31,250 lf of 4 " - 10 " distribution lines , and dedicated irrigation systems on County property in the vicinity of the County landfill The system extends reclaimed water service to serve the Johnston Community College JCC and other area businesses The County applies reclaimed water on hay fields and mixed pine and pine forests on County property The County also supplies reclaimed water to private golf courses , a lumber yard , residences , and farms located along the transmission mains In addition , reclaimed water issued for dust control on landfill access roads and is available for bulk tanker use in construction There is currently no charge for reclaimed water use A map of the County's reclaimed water system is provided in this tab Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 6 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage8Existing Capacity Water System Johnston County owns and operates the Timothy G Broome Water Treatment Plant on the Neuse River near Wilson's Mills The plant is permitted to treat an average of 140 mgd The County has registered withdrawal allocation from the Neuse River of 170 mgd at this location The County has agreements for purchase of 35 mgd from Smithfield , 25 mgd from Harnett County , 25 mgd from the City of Raleigh , 045 mgd from the Wayne County Districts , 15 mgd from the City of Wilson , 05 from Sampson County , and 001 MGD from Benson Thus , the peak supply capacity of the County is currently 2496 MGD A project is underway to increase the capacity of the water plant to 18 MGD Upon completion of the treatment plant upgrade expected in the Spring of 2025 , the County will have 2896 mgd in peak supply Wastewater System The Central Johnston County Regional WWTF can currently treat up to 95 mgd , and the County has the 210 WWTF under construction on County Home Road that will increase treatment capacity to 115 MGD The NPDES permit allows for expansion of treatment capacity to 135 mgd , provided appropriate process expansions are constructed and the reclaimed water system is expanded to facilitate compliance with effluent nitrogen permit limits and or more nitrogen credit is secured The current effluent nitrogen limit is an annual quantitative mass based limit which is fixed Reclaimed Water System Johnston County's existing system provides water for irrigation at the Country Club of Johnston County golf course and individual residences , wet decking at a lumber yard , third plumbing systems and irrigation at Johnston Community College and irrigation for hay crops and dust control at the Johnston County Landfill In addition , reclaimed water is used in the wastewater treatment process in places where potable water would have otherwise been used The system diverted an annualized average of 0714 mgd of wastewater effluent in 2023 , an equivalent of approximately 6,530 lbs of nitrogen per year assuming an average concentration of 3 mg l of nitrogen in the plant's effluent In 2023 , reclaimed water was extended to the Garrett Wildflower Farm across Middle Creek from the Landfill and 210 WWTF An estimated annual average of 0009 mgd will be used at the farm This application will divert approximately 80 lbs of nitrogen annually out of our discharge to the Neuse Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 7 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage9River Reclaimed water will also be used in the treatment process at the new 210 WWTF that is currently under construction The infrastructure of the reclaimed water system pumping facilities from the wastewater treatment plant and elevated storage tank can supply 25 mgd Supply capacity far exceeds the current and near - term demand Present Conditions Water System • Water Demand As Johnston County developed a countywide water system , the retail water customer base expanded rapidly from just over 700 customers in 1997 to just under 46,500 customers as of October 2023 On June 14 , 2022 , peak daily demand for the County water system reached our current record of 21581 mgd Daily demand is routinely over 14 mgd throughout summer months The County's peak to average day ratio is 135 • Water Quality The treatment system at the water treatment plant has six main steps to remove or reduce harmful contaminants presedimentation , partial MIEX pretreatment , coagulation , clarification , filtration by multimedia high - rate filters , and disinfection Once treatment is complete , water is pumped into elevated storage tanks for distribution throughout the water system The water quality produced by the plant meets all current regulatory criteria Each year , County staff prepares a water quality report which is made available to the public A copy of this report is available on wwwjohnstonncgov under the Public Utilities Department heading The current method of primary disinfection for the western portion of the County is chlorine and the secondary disinfection is chloramine the addition of chlorine and ammonia The County uses chlorine for primary and secondary disinfection in the supply to the eastern portion of the County The water is dosed to ensure that it reaches each tap with enough chlorine residual to ensure safety Chlorine is a highly reactive ion that will combine with organic material to form haloacetic acids HAAs , trihalomethanes THMs , and other disinfection by - products HAAs and THMs can be harmful to human health when exposed over prolonged periods of time at levels above the limits set by the US EPA The reactions are time and temperature dependent , and the County adds ammonia prior to entry into the Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 8 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage0distribution system to inhibit the formation of THMs However , it is only a partial solution as chloramine can create secondary undesirable conditions such as nitrification and formation of nitrosamines The formation of HAAs and THMs is dependent on the amount of organic material in the water , the temperature of the water , and the amount of time between the contact with chlorine and the use of the water To control the formation of disinfection byproducts , organic material must be removed prior to the disinfection process and or the residence time in the distribution system must be minimized Because Johnston County's system is primarily rural in nature , in some parts of the system the water often travels long distances to reach customers There are also many " dead end " lines where water cannot circulate , creating longer periods of travel time for the end users The County implements routine flushing programs to reduce the BDP potential formation Johnston County and the Water Districts are currently meeting regulatory standards Johnston County is required to meet the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule Stage 2 DBPR 71 FR 388 Jan 4 , 2006 , Vol 71 , No 2 set by the US EPA The rule focuses on reducing HAAs and THMs in drinking water through increased monitoring and decreased acceptable levels Stage 2 DBP Rules use a locational running annual average of HAA and THM levels to determine compliance The County's consultant selected DBP sampling locations through system modeling and an Individual Distribution System Evaluation IDSE Johnston County's IDSE was updated and approved in 2023 The finalized plan of action requires Johnston County to take samples quarterly and demonstrate that the locations selected in the plan are appropriate and that water quality issues are addressed , as necessary In order to meet the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule standards , the County added a magnetic ion exchange pretreatment process to remove additional organic material from a portion of the source water The magnetic ion exchange treated water flows through a separate process train at the plant for additional organic carbon removal and is dosed with free chlorine as a final disinfectant prior to release into the distribution system Testing of water quality at the most remote points of the system indicates that water quality has improved However , the County must continue to maintain a vigorous flushing program In addition , the County installed DBP reduction systems and or mixing equipment in several elevated tanks to reduce DBP formation The County will continue to pursue additional measures to reduce or prevent THM and HAA formation in order to maintain compliance with the Stage 2 rules Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 9 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage1The County is also working towards meeting the newly promulgated Lead and Copper Rule Revision LCRR and the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Revision Improvements LCRRI These rules require that all lead service lines be removed from the distribution system over a ten - year period The first step , an inventory of every service in the County's distribution system , is well underway and on track to meet the October 2024 deadline for submission to the State Field verifications on both the public a private side of the service meter will be required in areas with records that cannot confirm the service is not lead or galvanized that was ever downstream of a lead line The new rule will also require a corrosion control study and additional sampling • Water Transmission The overall condition of the distribution system is satisfactory Approximately 45 of the system is over 20 years old Another 39 of the lines in the system will pass the 20 - year - old mark within the next ten years Being over 20 years of age for a water pipe does not necessarily mean replacement is eminent An aging system requires more condition assessment and management The County is in the process of developing a Computerized Maintenance Management System CMMS to track the condition and maintenance needs for both the water distribution and wastewater collection system However , maintenance and pipeline replacement costs are expected to increase exponentially within the planning period Water Main Inventory Diameter TOTAL lf 10 - 20 Years Old lf Greater than 20 Years Old 1,768,871 506,834 620,086 4 4,685,852 2,231,847 1,836,868 6 1,720,129 671,757 877,734 8 51,635 9,205 41,154 10 1,104,241 368,377 681,831 12 624,350 84,339 491,594 16 60,759 25,033 5,233 20 103,330 31,369 5,824 24 10,119,167 3,928,762 4,560,323 TOTAL lf 1,91651 74408 86370 TOTAL miles Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 10 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage2Along several major transmission routes , the system is stressed by the tremendous increase in peak daily demands , especially in the western and northern areas of the County Several projects are underway to increase the hydraulic capacity of the system , but the County will need more of the 20 - year planning period to meet anticipated regional demands Elevated storage tanks are inspected annually , and several are in need of rehabilitation The County entered into a ten - year maintenance and rehabilitation program estimated to cost 25 - 3 million dollars over the ten - year period A new one - half million - gallon elevated storage tank was recently added to the system and is now included in the maintenance contract The new tank is located at the Archer Lodge Middle School and supports the rapidly growing Archer Lodge and Clayton areas Wastewater System • Treatment The Central Johnston County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility CJCRWWTF was constructed in 1978 with a capacity of 33 mgd Over the years the County has completed numerous upgrades and expansions at the facility The most recent expansion was completed in 2010 and expanded the WWTP's capacity from 70 to 95 mgd The County has the new 210 WWTF under construction to increase combined system treatment capacity to 115 MGD Through October of 2023 , influent into the WWTP averaged 63 mgd with a max day of 1197 mgd April Growth in wastewater demand is rapidly increasing Expansion of pharmaceutical industries in Clayton and a surge in residential development have reserved the majority of the remaining capacity in the existing plant There is currently just over 2 mgd in permitted flow that has not yet been constructed in the collection system An additional 84 mgd is projected to be allocated by 2036 for a total demand of just under 15 mgd Planning for an expansion to 16 mgd is underway expected to start construction in late 2024 In order to stay compliant with the Neuse River Basin - Nutrient Sensitive Waters Management Strategy rules 15A NCAC 2B 0234 and permit limits NPDES permit NC 0030716 , the County must maintain an effluent mass nitrogen limit of 73,477 lbs year currently allocated to the County or secure more nitrogen allocation In order to expand the WWTF beyond its current capacity , the County must pursue options for additional nitrogen allocation , such as additional reclaimed water diversion from the river discharge , Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 11 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage3nitrogen credits purchase or lease from other treated wastewater dischargers in the Neuse River Basin , and the acquisition of nutrient offset credits • Wastewater Collection The general state of the collection system is good , although several key elements of transmission infrastructure components are nearing their hydraulic capacity A wastewater collection system master plan outlines projects that will divert flow and upgrade facilities to increase capacity within the system The County works with residential developers to ensure that new additions to the system fit into the County's wastewater master plan The County strives to reduce the number of existing small pump stations in order to ease maintenance needs and reduce the potential for wastewater overflows While the majority of Johnston County's collection system has been constructed within the last 20 years , the County has some wastewater transmission infrastructure that is over 40 years old The US EPA Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis Report from September 2002 estimates the useful life of gravity collection piping to be 80 - 100 years While gravity lines may maintain structural integrity for 80 - 100 years , infiltration and inflow issues increase over time making rehabilitation necessary prior to the end of useful life The County has rehabilitated several key interceptors within the last 10 years and must rehabilitate interceptors during the planning period to eliminate sources of infiltration and inflow A brief overview of the County's gravity line inventory is shown hereto 2022 totals Gravity Sewer Inventory Diameter TOTAL lf 10 - 20 Years Old lf Greater than 20 Years Old 6 2,251 105 594 8 664,092 234,682 157,187 10 14,939 8,180 6,451 12 40,826 12,220 21,901 16 28,687 530 572 18 1,595 - 1,595 20 2,941 - - 24 15,100 2,788 3,601 Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 12 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage4Diameter TOTAL lf 10 - 20 Years Old lf Greater than 20 Years Old 27 8,343 - - 30 508 - 508 36 ` 4,927 - 3,684 784,209 258,505 196,094 TOTAL lf 14852 4896 3714 TOTAL miles The County's collection system includes 147 miles of force mains The US EPA Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis Report from September 2002 estimates the useful life of a force main to be 25 years Therefore , it is reasonable to expect that some of the 373,100 linear feet of force main in County's system over twenty years old will need to be replaced within the study period Force Main Inventory 10 - 20 Years Old Greater than 20 Diameter TOTAL lf lf Years Old 182,734 61,189 87,795 4 215,062 31,997 152,276 6 149,473 67,645 49,056 8 47,886 31,737 1,655 10 139,122 47,143 76,850 12 94,428 60,121 - 16 58,247 53,657 - 20 29,635 206 4,467 24 916,587 353,694 372,099 TOTAL lf 17360 6699 7047 TOTAL miles The collection system includes 63 pump stations The US EPA Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis Report from September 2002 estimates the useful life of the mechanical components of a pump station to be 25 years and the structural components to be 60 - 70 years Several wastewater pump stations will need to be rehabilitated or replaced within the planning period Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 13 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage5Reclaimed Water System The infrastructure of the reclaimed water system is less than twenty - five years old and in good condition Furthermore , the reclaimed water elevated storage tank is included in the inspection and maintenance schedule for the County's potable water tanks Specific Limitations Water System • Water Supply The County has an existing registered withdrawal from the Neuse River of 17 mgd The County does not currently recycle any of the backwash water or residuals process decant water Under State regulations , the County may recycle up to 10 of the plant's treatment capacity Current operations do recycle filter rewash or " filter - to - waste " water by carrying the water from the filters to the raw water storage basins for reprocessing State regulatory permitting previously limited the amount of raw water withdrawal from the Neuse River at the Timothy G Broome Johnston County Water Treatment Plant site to 120 mgd The State based this allocation on the 7Q10 analysis of the available flow in the river conducted by the United States Geologic Service USGS The 7Q10 is the lowest 7 - day average flow that occurs on average once every 10 years Over time the USGS estimates of 7Q10 flow have increased at the County's withdrawal point , allowing for the possibility of more raw water supply and the expansion of treatment facilities at this site However , the supply available at the current intake will not be sufficient to meet the County's long - term needs Additional supplies such as water purchase were explored in the County's most recent Long Term Water Supply Plan The study considered off - stream storage , new surface withdrawals , storage at abandoned quarries , and water purchases Water transfers between water basins are regulated under the Inter Basin Transfer Rules All transfers of 2 MGD or more require Interbasin Transfer Certificates The approval of an Interbasin Transfer Certificate is a rigorous process that can take three to five years to complete The study ultimately recommended constructing a new intake on the Neuse River near Richardson Bridge Road , a long raw water transmission line to the County owned abandoned quarry site in Princeton and a new treatment facility at that location The quarry will be converted to a water supply storage facility Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 14 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage6• Water Transmission The increase in peak daily demand due to growth and increased bulk water purchases will hydraulically stress segments of the County's transmission system Therefore , the County must complete booster station upgrades and transmission improvements in order to accommodate higher rates of flow The majority of the County's system was designed and constructed as a rural water system and is not able to support high flow rates for fire protection If requirements for fire flow change within the County or the zoning changes from rural residential to development that requires high flow rates for fire protection , the water transmission system will require improvements to support that change • Water Quality - Rules and Regulations Johnston County must comply with the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule Stage 2 DBPR 71 FR 388 Jan 4 , 2006 , Vol 71 , No 2 rule set by the US EPA Improvements and changes in water treatment and distribution system operations will be required for continued compliance with current Safe Drinking Water Act requirements and inevitable additional regulations The Safe Drinking Water Act SDWA , as amended in 1996 , directs the Environmental Protection Agency EPA to publish a list of contaminants referred to as the Contaminant Candidate List , or CCL to assist in priority - setting efforts The SDWA also directs the agency to select five or more contaminants from the current CCL and determine whether to regulate these contaminants with a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation NPDWR The EPA recently published its third CCL If the EPA implements nitrosamine regulation , the County will most likely discontinue use of chloramination for secondary disinfection and significantly decrease organic material in the source water prior to disinfection within the CIP 20 - year time frame On December 17 , 2021 , EPA added the Lead and Copper Rule Revision to the federal registry The rule sets an initial compliance deadline of October 16 , 2024 Initial compliance includes preparation of a lead service line inventory and corrosion control study , followed by the development of a lead service line replacement plan and a tap sampling plan The County anticipates the implementation of new State and Federal regulations for PFOS PFOA Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Perfluorooctanoic Acid in the next five years PFOS PFOA is a group of manufactured chemical compounds used since the 1940s in such things as fire and stain retardants on household textiles , non - stick cookware , firefighting materials , food packaging , personal care products and cleaning products They are ubiquitous in our environment and make it into our drinking water and Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 15 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage7our wastewater They are known to have adverse health effects on a number of human systems An EPA rule establishing drinking water limits for six PFAS compounds was proposed in fall of 2023 Additional regulations related to limits in biosolids , and ambient water quality are expected be released in the fall of 2024 Wastewater System • Wastewater Treatment - Location and Rising Flood Elevations The wastewater treatment facility is within the floodway and floodplain of the Neuse River It is surrounded by a dike for flood protection This arrangement limits the amount of space available for expansion With the need for room to expand in mind , the County purchased land directly across the river from the existing plant for future expansion In October of 2016 , the wastewater treatment facility was inundated by flood waters associated with Hurricane Matthew causing massive wastewater spills and millions of dollars of damage Post flood investigation determined that the flood plain is expanding , and flood levels are increasing in the area around the plant A recent study by Dewberry Engineers indicates the new 500 - year flood plain elevation is approximately 132 ft msl in the area of the County's facility At the time of the flooding , the flood protection dike around the plant ranged in elevation from 1269 ft to 1275 ft Post Hurricane Matthew - October 11 , 2016 - flood waters receding Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 16 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage8The County completed a flood mitigation project to raise the elevation of the dike with a combination of flood gates , earthen material fill , and retaining walls Due to funding limitations , the height of the dike was only raised to 129 ft This height is above the previous record flood , but below the predicted 500 - year flood event When the flooding occurred , the County was in the process of designing an expansion to the facility at the existing site After flooding , the County evaluated the property across the river for the expansion However , Dewberry's study results the 500 - year flood plain elevation was 132ft msl , making this site undesirable for an expansion site Almost all of the sites would be flooded in a 500 - year event Due to these limitations , the new WWTF will be located adjacent to the Johnston County Landfill on County Home Road with only the dechlorination facilities , cascade aerator and outfall located on the property across the river from the CJCRWWTF • Wastewater Treatment - Neuse River Nutrient Sensitive Waters Johnston County is subject to the Neuse River Basin - Nutrient Sensitive Waters Management Strategy rules 15A NCAC 2B 0234 Under these rules the County has a total mass discharge nitrogen limit of 73,477 lbs year , which due to a transport factor of fifty percent , is equivalent to 36,738 estuary nitrogen pounds See the allocation table below Current NPDES Permit Nitrogen Allocation Allocation Source Date Allocation Allocation Status Type Estuary Discharge lb yr lb yr Base Assigned by rule T15A NCAC 12 7 97 ; 28,102 56,203 Active 02B 0234 4 1 03 Supplemental Assumption of White Oak - - - 2,816 5,632 Active Plantation WWTP NPDES permit , formerly NC 0060330 , from Carolina Water Service Supplemental Assumption of Buffalo Creek - - - 2,816 5,632 Active WWTP NPDES permit , formerly NC0064556 , from River Dell Heater Utilities Bulk Service Agreement Supplemental Purchase from UNIFI - Kinston , 12 1 07 1,645 3,290 Active NC0003760 Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 17 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage9Supplemental Purchase from Town of Benson , 4 2 08 360 720 Active NC 0020389 Supplemental Purchase from Phillips Plating 8 16 18 1,000 2,000 Active Company , Inc NC 0020389 TOTALS 36,738 73,477 In addition to the current NPDES permit , the County is under contract with Restoration System LLC to secure nutrient offset credits from mitigation bank to provide 13,699 pounds of additional nitrogen credit The credit will be released to the County in increments over the next six years , with the County receiving fifty percent of the allocation by July 2023 In October of 2023 , the County entered into contract with International Paper Company to purchase 10,000 pounds of estuary nitrogen The County is currently working on getting the additional nitrogen under contract included in the new NPDES permit • Wastewater Collection - Manifolded Systems A sizable portion of the County's collection system was developed as a manifolded pressure system In these systems , several pump stations share capacity in a collector force main These systems are difficult to manage and to grow Any change in the flow conditions of one station impacts the ability of the others to pump Many of these manifolded systems have reached their maximum capacity Reclaimed Water System • Permitting - Acceptable Uses State rules limit the use of reclaimed water The reclaimed water system was previously regulated under 15A NCAC 02T 0900 The State legislature adopted 15A NCAC 02U 0100 rules on June 18 , 2011 " to encourage and promote safe and beneficial use of reclaimed water in a manner that is protective of both public health and the environment http portalncdenrorg web wq aps lau programs # Reclaimed - Water , 3 11 2013 " The 15A NCAC 02U 0100 rules expand the uses of reclaimed water to wetlands augmentation and to food chain crops that would be peeled , skinned , cooked or thermally processed The rule also clarifies that tobacco is not considered a food crop Therefore , reclaimed water irrigation of tobacco is permissible This change in rules created opportunities for the County to expand its distribution of reclaimed water to area farmers Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 18 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage0• Funding - Financially Sustainable Model The construction of reclaimed water infrastructure in Johnston County is limited by available financing The County does not currently charge customers for reclaimed water use The County anticipates future charges for reclaimed water uses to be limited to recoup operation and maintenance costs only Therefore , any infrastructure improvements made to the reclaimed water system must be funded through grants and or third - party contributions to avoid impact on the Fund 68 wastewater enterprise fund Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 19 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage1Long - Term Needs Water System Over the next 20 years , Johnston County expects to implement significant changes to the water system water district program Johnston County essentially achieved countywide coverage with the development of rural water districts The County is focusing on upgrades to critical infrastructure to meet growing demands Growth in the service area continues to stress several key pathways of distribution Hazen and Sawyer's recent modeling of the County's current and future distribution needs outlines the improvements required to provide additional hydraulic capacity in the system Tab 3 With the addition of the magnetic ion exchange process at the water treatment plant , the County effectively divided the distribution system into two separate systems one served with water disinfected with chloramines and the other with water disinfected with free chlorine This strategy is part of an effort to meet the new , more stringent disinfection by - product regulations The County considered the alternative of converting the entire system to free chlorine but rejected the option due to compatibility issues with neighboring water systems , which provide bulk supply to the western section of the County The County has modified original boundaries and anticipated potential future modifications between the West chloramines and East free chlorine system due to operational issues and growing regional demands Johnston County must expand its water supply capacity The County currently has 140 MGD in water treatment capacity and 1096MGD of available purchase In the past , State Regulators advised the County that additional raw water supply would not be available from the Neuse River at the County's water treatment plant site A project is currently underway to expand the Timothy G Broome WTP to a capacity of 18 MGD The withdrawal from the Neuse River at the plant site is limited to 17 MGD On - site storage will be used to meet short term peak demands that require 18 MGD of supply from this facility The County is nearing completion of a Long Term Water Supply Plan that explores all reasonable options for increasing water supply to meet the projected demand over a fifty year period The plan recommends that the County develop a new intake along the Neuse River near Richardson Bridge Road , convert the County - owned quarry near Princeton to a water storage facility , and construct a new treatment facility at that location Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 20 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage2Within the twenty - year period covered in this capital improvements plan , the County plans to increase bulk purchases and construct new intake , storage , and treatment facilities to meet the growing demand The 20 - year water supply CIP details are provided in Tab 4 Wastewater System The County has several options for the future treatment of wastewater No action would be irresponsible as wastewater flow projections and nitrogen limits show that the County must take action in order to accommodate growth and to continue to meet State environmental regulations The County considered both constructing a new regional wwtp and a second , separate treatment plant The County also considered a land application system for biosolids management but rejected it due to the prohibitive cost of land and the cost of transmission facilities The County considered optimizing the operation of the existing facility While this option has merits , it alone will not meet the projected treatment capacity and effluent nitrogen reduction The County also considered expanding the existing wwtp as one project and as a phased new plant project Ultimately , the County selected a combination of expanding the existing treatment capacity with new facilities at the County's existing biosolids facility located adjacent to the Landfill optimizing the treatment processes , and a combination of purchasing nitrogen credits and increasing the amount of effluent sent into the reclaimed water system as the most cost - effective course of action Tab 6 includes the wastewater treatment improvements planned for the 20 - year period , as well as a detailed description of the next proposed expansion taken from the 2017 Engineering Report Update for the Johnston County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility by Hazen and Sawyer Reclaimed Water System The County should consider expanding the reclaimed water system to meet the overall wastewater needs of the County In addition , it will provide a safe , reliable alternative to the use of potable water for local agricultural , institutional , recreational , and residential irrigation systems The County identified the most cost beneficial projects to expand its existing system on the basis of the amount of projected reclaimed used , the reliability of the user , the projected cost , and the overall benefit to the users Please refer to Tab 7 for proposed capital improvements to the reclaimed water distribution system Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 21 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage3Studies & Assessments Previously Completed The studies and assessments listed below were used as references for this report Water System Johnston County Public Utilities produced a Water Supply Plan in 2006 In addition , the County submitted Local Water Supply plans to the State in 2007 and 2008 During the summer of 2008 , Public Utilities staff revised the water demand projections in the 2006 study to reflect the changing water use patterns determined through data collection The report recommended purchasing water capacity from neighboring systems and the construction of a new water treatment plant in the future The County completes a yearly LWSP as required by PWS CH2M Hill prepared an Environmental Assessment and a Safe Yield Summary Report on Water Supply & Water Storage Alternatives for Johnston County in May and August of 2009 , respectively This report investigates the water supply and storage options the County has for a future 24 MGD water treatment plant near the Little River north of Princeton CH2M Hill investigated water intakes on both the Little and Neuse River as well as using two nearby quarries for raw water storage In 2007 , Hazen & Sawyer constructed a hydraulic and water quality model of the distribution system and submitted an Individual Distribution System Evaluation IDSE to the State for review as required by the Stage 2 Disinfection By - Products Rule The firm completed a 20 - year plan to identify essential transmission and distribution improvements The study determined sampling points for compliance Hazen & Sawyer updated the IDSE plan in 2011 and 2017 In October 2009 , Hazen & Sawyer completed the Water Transmission Master Plan The plan analyzed the impacts of separating the distribution system into two systems , a chloraminated and a chlorinated water supply The split was part of the County's plan to meet the Stage 2 Disinfectant Disinfection By - Products D DBP Rule using MIEX pretreated water and chlorine disinfected water to serve the east side of the County where detention times are longer In 2018 , Hazen and Sawyer updated the Water Transmission Plan and made recommendations for maintaining and improving water quality , eliminating pressure and supply issues , and preparing for the expected growth in demand within the system An update to that study is in process Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 22 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage4In addition , Hazen & Sawyer completed studies for enhanced total organic carbon removal at the water treatment plant and a Corrosion Control Study Process options for TOC removal focused on activated carbon absorption and ion exchange with the latter more cost effective A PER , entitled " Dissolved Organic Carbon DOC Reduction Testing for Compliance with Initial Distribution System Evaluation IDSE and Long - Term , Phase 2 , Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule LT2ESWTR for Johnston County " was completed in 2007 The report recommended the addition of the magnetic ion exchange process to the County's existing water treatment plant Hazen & Sawyer completed the Corrosion Control Study in 2007 and recommended the addition of zinc orthophosphate Dewberry Engineers completed the required America's Water Infrastructure Act water system risk and emergency response plan in 2022 In addition , Dewberry updated the County's Source Water Protection Plan These reports help identify weak points in the County's defenses against natural disasters , physical and cyber - attacks , and accidents and recommended improvements that were incorporated in the recommended projects of this plan Wastewater System In 2017 , Johnston County Public Utilities completed wastewater system demand projections and recommended wastewater transmission improvements to not only meet projected demands but also consolidate flow and eliminate as many pump stations as practical Staff continually update those projections and planned improvements Tab 5 includes the recommended improvements In March 2020 , Hazen & Sawyer produced the most recent revision of " Engineering Report Update - Johnston County Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility " The report details the wastewater treatment needs for the next twenty years Tab 6 includes the recommended improvements Reclaimed Water In 2005 , Johnston County and McKim & Creed Engineers completed a Reclaimed Water System Expansion Study which is the basis for the 20 - year expansion program When the County fully implements the reclaimed water system , an annualized average of up to 36 MGD of wastewater effluent can be diverted from the Neuse River , which is approximately 33,000 lbs of nitrogen per year diverted from direct discharge to land application and reuse Financial Analysis Johnston County Public Utilities Tab 1 - 23 2024 Capital Improvements PlanPage5In May 2017 , Willdan Financial Services completed their first - rate study for the Department establishing a financial model that may be modified and adapted to meet the County's changing needs Willdan updated the rate study and developed a system development fee SDF analysis in 2019 Both studies were again updated in 2020 and 2023 Tab 8 includes a copy of Willdan's Water and Wastewater System Development Fee Study for Fiscal Year 2024 , dated June 6 , 2023 Current Studies Johnston County Public Utilities is currently working with various consultants on the following studies • Long Range Water Supply Plan - Hazen & Sawyer • 2022 Update to the Hydraulic Model and Water Transmission Master Plan - Hazen & Sawyer • Selma Equalization & Pumping Facility - Long Range Plan - CDM Smith • Wastewater Treatment Expansion Plan and NPDES permitting - Dewberry Engineers • TGB WTP Treatment Optimization for P