Water Supply
John F. Kime WTP Expansion and Upgrades
PTRWA exists for the benefit of the citizens of Randolph and Guilford Counties and partners with the region’s communities to plan, advocate for, develop, and deliver high-quality water, wastewater, and related services. To continue to do that, we are making much-needed investments in the John F. Kime Water Treatment Plant.
The Kime plant currently provides 14.7 million gallons of drinking water per day (MGD) to surrounding communities, operating at close to full capacity, year-round. But this will change soon. Commercial growth in the Carolina Core brings incredible economic opportunity for the region, which in turn attracts more residents. The PTRWA is currently working to expand the plant’s capacity to 26.7 MGD, with an ultimate long-range capacity of 48 MGD.
In addition to expanding the water supply, PTWRA is also enhancing the treatment process to meet new and emerging regulations for drinking water. The quality of the water PTWRA accesses for drinking water treatment has changed in recent years. Elevated levels of iron, manganese, carbon, and the presence of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 1,4-dioxane have been found.
Our vision to support community and economic vitality through regional leadership means we must take swift, effective action to continue to provide high-quality water and wastewater resources in the Piedmont Triad and Upper Cape Fear River Basin. The PTRWA is therefore using a Design-Build process to accelerate the development of solutions to these challenges. Crowder Construction Company (Crowder) and HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas (HDR) will complete the design and construction of two projects to address both the quantity and quality challenges. The Expansion project includes the equipment needed to increase the capacity of the existing treatment systems, such as additional pumping, pretreatment equipment, and chemical systems. While PTRWA has selected reverse osmosis (RO) membrane treatment as the primary treatment step for CECs, they will pilot-test the RO membrane system to further refine it and evaluate potential treatment options for the advanced treatment of waste streams prior to design.
PTWRA is also pilot testing technologies to treat PFAS and 1,4- dioxane and additional bench-scale studies will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of advanced oxidative processes (AOPs) to treat 1,4-dioxane.
The project team is nearing 60% completion on the design of the expansion package and is approximately 50% complete with the pilot testing of the Advanced Treatment systems. PTRWA anticipates construction on the expansion package beginning in September 2025.
Securing Economic Vitality For The Carolina Core
The Cape Fear River Basin hosts one of North Carolina’s most active and successful economic development corridors in the United States, the Carolina Core. Often referred to as North Carolina’s economic engine, the Carolina Core has garnered more than $20 billion in capital investments over the past six years in the aerospace, biomedical, automotive, technology and logistic sectors. Companies like HondaJet, Pfizer, FedEx, Toyota, Wolfspeed, and Boom Supersonic have made significant manufacturing investments here already, and many more are anticipated over the next 20 years.
This is good news for the businesses of the area who will support these manufacturing megasites and even better news for the residents of the area who will benefit from a competitive job market and improved infrastructure to serve these sites. And, speaking of infrastructure, it is estimated that the triad communities alone will need more than 42 million gallons per day of additional wastewater capacity and 38 million gallons per day of additional water capacity by 2050, to accommodate the growth fueled by the Carolina Core’s development.
This kind of increase is more than even the largest utilities in the area can manage. A regional approach is needed, and we stand ready to be a part of the solution.
The Highway 421 corridor that stretches from Greensboro to Dunn North Carolina contains the majority of the Carolina Core. This is a globally competitive economic development market for the region. It offers a talent pool of more than two million people; access to more than 30 colleges and universities with 250,000 students; multiple airports; four megasites totaling 7,200 acres of certified land; urban research parks; and more.
It is anticipated that this development will bring an additional 50,000 people to the area over the next 10-20 years, necessitating additional water and wastewater services beyond the current capacity of any single service provider in the region. Rough estimates to be confirmed through further study put the needed capacity at 135 million gallons per day for water and 105 million gallons per day for wastewater.
Because of this emerging and urgent need, the State’s Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ), under direction of the General Assembly, conducted a study early in 2024 to examine options for expanding water and wastewater utility services in the corridor (outlined in red in the figure). The intent of the study was to identify opportunities that would enable the corridor’s ability to meet an anticipated increase in both water and sewer utility services through a more regionalized approach to water resource planning, infrastructure construction, and service delivery.
Master Planning Study
The PTRWA has commissioned a Master Planning study to determine how to best meet this infrastructure need. The Study will consider all the technical, regulatory, operational, organizational, and administratively feasible ways of providing water and wastewater infrastructure to the region in the most environmentally, operationally, and financially advantageous way. Once the study is completed in the third quarter of 2025, all our Region’s utilities will review its findings and collaborate to determine the best course of action to provide water and wastewater security to the citizens of Guilford and Randolph Counties and the Upper Cape Fear River Basin.
Benefits of A Regional Solution
1. Cost Savings
Investments in water and wastewater capacity are costly for customers. A regionalized approach helps spread those costs over more customers, making water and wastewater service much more affordable for all.
2. Less Risk
Every water and wastewater utility faces increasing regulations. The costs associated with the new regulations will increase over time, potentially very significantly. This approach enables utilities to share and ultimately reduce their risks.
3. Increased Resiliency
The projected growth associated with Core’s economic development will require a collaborative approach to ensure the industrial, commercial, and residential users have adequate capacity. Water scarcity, whether water for drinking or wastewater treatment, must not become a limiting factor. The multi-jurisdictional model available through the PTRWA will greatly enhance the region’s resiliency in addressing long-term water resource needs for all communities, including traditionally underserved communities, while seeking to maintain affordability to the greatest extent possible.
4. Enhanced Planning
Regional planning creates a stronger platform for meeting longer-range needs than local, individualized community planning does. Future capacity forecasting for both water and wastewater management is enhanced when done on a regional scale.
Engage in the Process
The PTRWA intends to engage all stakeholders throughout the study to ensure all ideas, concerns, and issues are heard and integrated. To share your ideas, questions, or concerns, please contact us.
Conservation Tips
There are a number of easy ways to save water, and they all start with you. When you save water, you save money on your utility bills. Here are just a few ways.
Water Treatment
The current John F. Kime WTP owned and operated by PTRWA uses a series of advanced processes to treat water to meet the federal standards for drinking water. This includes the removal of sediments; filtration using a variety of materials like membranes and activated carbon; disinfection; additives to minimize the corrosion of pipes; pumping and distribution of the water; and storage for emergencies.
Drinking Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
Each year we make available a short report that tells where your water comes from and what is in it. See below for the most recent report available, or call our office and we will gladly assist you. The CCR is now available at here. If you would like a hard copy, please contact our office at (336) 498-5510.