The City of Sanford, the Town of Fuquay-Varina, and the Town of Holly Springs will gather at Sanford’s water filtration facility next week to break ground on the facility expansion that will ensure reliable access to water for our communities for the next 20 years.
Through this strategic and dynamic regional partnership, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs will pay a proportional share of the expansion and operation costs to increase the facility’s treatment capacity from 12 million gallons per day (MGD) to 30 MGD.
The total cost of the water filtration facility expansion is $390,677,678. Of the added 18 MGD, Sanford will own 8 MGD at a cost of $185,852,350, Fuquay-Varina will own 6 MGD at a cost of $122,895,197, and Holly Springs will own 4 MGD at a cost of $81,930,131.
Sanford will manage the facility, retain sole authority over its operation, and maintain an ownership stake.
In addition to increased treatment capacity, the expansion project provides an opportunity to add granular activated carbon filters to the water filtration process. These filters remove unwanted contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The facility expansion will be highly impactful for each partner municipality. Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs gain access to the water resources needed to meet their growth needs. For Sanford, bringing in partners spreads the capital costs of expansion and accomplishes economies of scale while also diversifying the system’s customer base.
Taking on the role of regional water and wastewater provider is encouraged and incentivized by the state, leading to increased funding opportunities that offer further cost savings. Sanford is positioned to be a major economic development engine for the region, allowing the state to remain competitive for industry recruitment and retention.
The expanded facility will continue benefitting Sanford’s residents as businesses and industries are recruited to the region.
“This arrangement is a win-win for our region,” says Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon. “Sanford has used good fiscal stewardship and smart planning to meet our infrastructure needs, reduce some of the cost burden to our water users, and protect the quality of our water into the future,” she says.
Construction will start on Tuesday, October 29 with the expansion groundbreaking. The project is anticipated for completion in 2028.