Water system improvements paying off

9:31 p.m. July 8, 2025

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

At Tuesday night’s MUD meeting, Matt Williamson from LJA Engineering presented a comprehensive update on ongoing infrastructure projects and preliminary results from system upgrades funded through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) – painting a picture of progress, improved efficiency, and significant cost savings.

Williamson began by noting that multiple projects are nearing reimbursement milestones. The Water GIS and Modeling project, which received a $250,000 ARP allocation, is nearing completion, with a reimbursement of $85,000 already in process and a $75,000 check expected this week. Additionally, the sanitary sewer rehabilitation project, with an engineering budget of $285,000, has received $46,000 in requests, $4,000 in payments, and $42,000 pending.

“That’s $117,000 back into your account this week,” Williamson said, underscoring the fiscal importance of the reimbursements.

A Strategic Roadmap

As part of the water system upgrade, Williamson delivered a draft Asset Management Plan to the MUD board – a critical document now required for most state and federal funding applications. The plan evaluates the condition, likelihood of failure, and consequence of failure for each piece of infrastructure, from pipes and hydrants to tanks and plants.

An interactive dashboard presents the data, identifies system weaknesses, and helps prioritize future repairs. The plan features GIS mapping and connectivity updates, which, according to Williamson, create a “close approximation” of the real-world water system.

“The model can now simulate 24-hour pressure and flow cycles,” he said. “We’ve already identified several high-risk areas, like Bull Run, with pressures exceeding 200 PSI – well above typical design limits.”

A potential fix? Installing a pressure-reducing valve. The model demonstrated that this solution could reduce pressures to below 175 PSI, thereby bringing the system into safe operating conditions and reducing long-term maintenance requirements.

The water model also supports long-range planning by estimating the amount of growth the current water plant can handle. The plant currently has an available capacity of 180 gallons per minute. Still, expansions at Jack Daniel's South Bottling House or new housing developments could quickly consume this capacity.

“We tested a scenario adding 100 gallons per minute from a new intake site,” Williamson explained. “It would ease pressure on the Coy Hill booster station and allow for future development in the Griffin Tank area – all while extending the life of the current plant.”

LJA Engineering anticipates delivering the final modeling reports in September.

Sanitary Rehab: Tangible Results

The $1.4 million sanitary rehab project reached substantial completion at the end of June, with only punch list items and final clean-up remaining. Crews have already addressed several issues under warranty, including poorly poured concrete and improperly reopened service connections.

Crews lined a lateral pipe near a low-lying road, eliminating a potential source of infiltration. They also repaired a long-neglected manhole behind the MUD office, where water had been seeping into the system and undergoing unnecessary treatment. The repairs now divert that inflow and significantly improve system efficiency.

And the results are measurable.

Williamson shared post-rehab flow data showing that despite record rainfall in May and June 2025, wastewater flows were significantly reduced.

“In May, we had nearly triple the rain we saw in 2021 – but flow to the plant was still below 2021 levels,” he said. “Overall, you’ve reduced inflow and infiltration by 40%. That’s a massive win.”

What's Next?

To further improve system understanding, Williamson recommended flow monitoring in specific basins to pinpoint areas with remaining high flows. This will help determine whether the long-troubled Woodards pump station needs a complete rebuild or if recent reductions in system flow may allow for a more modest upgrade.

Currently, the pump station causes about 50% capacity loss due to design constraints. Options to address the issue include increasing storage, building a larger pump station, or expanding the pipe size – all of which are dependent on future flow projections.

In closing, Williamson updated the board on a long-standing reimbursement issue tied to TDOT’s Highway 55 project. After months of back-and-forth and corrected paperwork, LJA expects Moore County will receive a check for $77,785.50 before the end of the year.

“We’re confident it’s coming,” Williamson said.

The combination of targeted investments, accurate modeling, and proactive planning has enabled Moore County not only to modernize its water and sewer systems but also to reduce waste, prepare for growth, and secure significant external funding.

“You’ve saved money, improved service, and made real progress,” Williamson concluded. “It’s a testament to the coordination between your staff, this board, and the engineering team.”