Boone will buy

water-intake site
By Frank Ruggiero
ruggiero@wataugademocrat.com

It’s a deal that’s sure to make a splash.

The town of Boone has dived into a contract to purchase 10 acres along the New River for a new raw-water intake.

Mayor Loretta Clawson announced the purchase Thursday, May 8, saying the new intake site, coupled with existing intakes on Winkler’s Creek and the South Fork of the New River, will supply a sufficient amount of water to meet the town’s 20-year needs.

The 10 acres are located near the Watauga/Ashe county line, and town manager Greg Young said the town is purchasing the land from the Cooper family for $850,000, to be derived from the general budget.

To cover the entire project, as well as reimburse the $850,000, Young said the town is pursuing a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the sum of $18 to $19 million, which would cover the intake, new transmission lines from there to Boone, and high-rating the existing water plant to boost capacity.

The town has been searching for such a site since receiving a report from W.K. Dickson Engineering Firm, which indicated its current facilities were not sufficient to meet future needs.

The town is permitted by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources to draw 3 million gallons per day (mgd) from its sources, though W.K. Dickson’s report indicated the town would need the ability to handle a maximum daily demand of 6.8 mgd by 2030.

And considering only so much water can be legally drawn from that particular area, the need for an additional site became paramount.

One of the most promising alternatives for expansion involved seeking a new intake on the New River, and Young said this particular tract has been under consideration for approximately a year.

The next phase involves a series of environmental assessments and acquisition of proper permits to begin construction of the lines.

“We’re moving along, and we’re really excited,” Clawson said.