Brunswick_IBT_Scoping

1

MEMORANDUM

To: State Environmental Review Clearinghouse
From: J. Todd Kennedy, Tetra Tech
Cc: Toya Fields, Division of Water Resources
Date: April 17, 2009
Subject: Brunswick County Interbasin Transfer – SEPA Scoping Document

1 Introduction
Brunswick County, among the fastest growing counties in the state, provides water to more than 30,500
retail customers and 11 wholesale customers. Future demand for water has prompted a proposal to
expand the County’s Northwest Water Treatment Plant (WTP). The expansion of the Northwest WTP
plant is expected to trigger the need for an IBT certificate from the North Carolina Environmental
Management Commission (EMC) under the Regulation of Surface Water Transfers Act. A portion of the
surface water treated at the Northwest WTP in the Cape Fear River Basin, as defined by G.S. § 143-
215.22G, is distributed to customers in the Shallotte River Basin and the Waccamaw River Basin, both of
which are located in the Lumber Major River Basin (Figure 1).
Brunswick County (lead applicant) and the towns of Oak Island, Shallotte, Holden Beach, and Ocean Isle
Beach (co-applicants) are requesting comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) required under G.S. § 143-215.22L.
2 Project Description
2.1 BRUNSWICK COUNTY’S WATER SYSTEM
The County has two water treatment plants: the Northwest WTP, located near Northwest and supplied by
water from the Cape Fear River, and the 211 WTP, located near St. James and supplied by 15
groundwater wells into the Castle Hayne Aquifer (Figure 2). The Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer
Authority supplies raw water to the Northwest WTP from an intake on the Cape Fear River above Lock
and Dam 1. There is one additional intake located downstream (industrial; International Paper). The
Northwest WTP and 211 WTP have permitted capacities of 24 million gallons per day (MGD) and
6 MGD, respectively.
The County’s water system serves the majority of Brunswick County. Current customers include the
following wholesale entities: Bald Head Island, Boiling Spring Lakes, Caswell Beach, Holden Beach,
3200 Chapel Hill-Nelson Hwy, Suite 105 • PO Box 14409
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Tel [phone] • Fax [phone]

Brunswick IBT Scoping April 17, 2009

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North Brunswick SD, Northwest, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Shallotte, Navassa, and Southport. The
system also serves retail and industrial customers located within the County’s jurisdiction as well as
customers residing in the towns of Sunset Beach, Carolina Shores, Bolivia, Calabash, and Varnamtown.
Wastewater is handled through a variety of system types. Septic tanks are common. In addition, non-
discharge systems are used in the Shallotte River Basin including the West Brunswick Regional Water
Reclamation Facility. One minor discharge is located in the Waccamaw River Basin. In the Cape Fear
River Basin, wastewater is processed through small non-discharge facilities, several minor dischargers,
and the County’s Northeast Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Shallotte
IBT River
Basin
Waccamaw
IBT River
Basin Cape Fear
IBT River
Basin
Cape Fear
River Estuary
Northwest
WTP
US-17
N
C
-13
3
NC-904
NC-211N
C-130
N
C-8
7
NC-179
US-17
NC-211
N
C-1
3
0
Brunswick County Interbasin Transfer
NAD_1983_StatePlane_North_Carolina_FIPS_3200_metersMap Produced 04-13-2009 - P. Cada
Map Extent
North
Carolina
South
Carolina
0 4 8 122Miles
0 4 8 122
Kilometers
Legend
Water Treatment Plant
IBT River Basin
A t l a n t i cA t l a n t i c
O c e a nO c e a n
A t l a n t i c O c e a nA t l a n t i c O c e a n
Cape Fear River

Figure 1. USGS Topographic Map

Brunswick IBT Scoping April 17, 2009

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GF
GF
GF
GF
GF
[
[
#
Brunswick
County Shallotte
IBT River
Basin
Waccamaw
IBT River
Basin Cape Fear
IBT River
Basin
Lock & Dam #1
SOUTH
CAROLINA
W a c c a m a w Riv e r
Cape Fear River
Ca
p
e

F
e
a
r

R
i
v
e
r

E
s
t
u
a
r
y
International
Paper
Lower Cape Fear
WSA Intake
(Northwest WTP source)
[
Northwest
WTP
211 WTP
Wilmington
Boiling
Spring
Lakes
Oak Island
Northwest
Leland
Whiteville
Belville
Bolton
Shallotte
Sunset
Beach
Sandyfield
Navassa
Bald
Head
Island
Holden
Beach
Chadbourn
Calabash
Ocean
Isle
Beach
Southport
East
Arcadia
Lake
Waccamaw
Carolina
Shores
Bolivia
Varnamtown
Brunswick
W
h
i
t
e
M
a
r
s
h
Monie Swamp
Big Creek
Juniper Creek
N
C
-
1
3
3
N
C
-90
5
NC-13
2
NC-210
I
-
4
0
N
C-
1
3
0
NC-211
NC-87
NC-904
US-117
US-17
U
S
-
4
2
1
NC-211
NC-211
US-701
U S -1 7
US-117
Brunswick County Interbasin Transfer
NAD_1983_StatePlane_North_Carolina_FIPS_3200_meters
Map Produced 04-13-2009 - P. Cada ±
Map Extent
North
Carolina
Virginia
South
Carolina
0 5 10 152.5
Miles
0 5 10 152.5 Kilometers
Legend
#Lock and Dam
[Water Treatment Plant
GF Water Supply Intake
Waterline (Brunswick County)
Major Waterways
Primary Roads
IBT River Basin
Major River Basin
Municipal Boundary
A t l a n t i cA t l a n t i c
O c e a nO c e a n
A t l a n t i c O c e a nA t l a n t i c O c e a n

Figure 2. Map of Study Area
Brunswick IBT Scoping April 17, 2009

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2.2 WATER DEMAND PROJECTIONS
Water demand projections were prepared for the County’s most recent Water Master Plan by Hazen and
Sawyer in 2006 (Figure 3). Typically, municipalities will begin a water treatment plant expansion
process when the maximum daily demand reaches 80 percent of the plant capacity. As shown in Figure 3,
the projected maximum daily demand was estimated to reach 80 percent of the water treatment capacity,
for the Northwest and 211 plants combined, in about 2007. To meet future water demand, the County is
proposing to expand the Northwest WTP from 24 MGD to 36 MGD.

Figure 3. Water Demand Projections for Brunswick County Water System (from Hazen and
Sawyer, 2006)
2.3 INTERBASIN TRANSFER
The expansion of the Northwest WTP plant is expected to trigger the need for an IBT certificate since a
portion of the surface water treated at the Northwest WTP in the Cape Fear River Basin, as defined by
G.S. § 143-215.22G, is distributed to customers in the Shallotte River Basin and the Waccamaw River
Basin, both of which are located in the Lumber Major River Basin. Waters located in the Lumber Major
River Basin (except for the Lockwoods Folly and Shallotte rivers), including the Waccamaw River, are
tributaries of the Pee Dee River, which flows to Winyah Bay in South Carolina. The Shallotte River and
Lockwoods Folly River are also considered part of the Lumber Major River Basin and flow directly into
the Atlantic Ocean.
Under the grandfather provision of the Regulation of Surface Water Transfers Act, Brunswick County
may transfer up to 10.44 MGD from one designated river basin to another without an IBT certificate
(Table 1). Based on water demand projections, it is expected that the County’s grandfathered transfer
capacity will be exceeded during the year 2012 and therefore require an IBT certificate (Table 2). At that
time, 9.68 MGD and 0.76 MGD are expected to be transferred to the Shallotte River Basin and
Waccamaw River Basin, respectively, and not returned to the source river basin. The County is
requesting an IBT certificate from the EMC for a maximum transfer of 18.35 MGD to the Shallotte River
Brunswick IBT Scoping April 17, 2009

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Basin and a maximum transfer of 0.94 MGD to the Waccamaw River Basin based on projections through
2040.
Table 1. Transfer Capacity as of July 1, 1993
Water Transfer Element Capacity (MGD)
Water Treatment Plant 24
Transmission/Distribution
System
18
Discharge Capacity1 10.44
Transfer Capacity 10.44
1 Includes max day WWTP permitted capacity, max day consumptive loses (i.e., septic tanks), and other system
losses (i.e., a reasonable estimate of unaccounted losses such as leaking pipes).
Table 2. Maximum Daily Water Transfer (Actual 2006; Projected 2010 – 2040)
Year
Withdrawal from
Source (MGD)
Total Return to
Source Basin
(MGD)
Interbasin
Transfer –
Shallotte
(MGD)
Interbasin
Transfer –
Waccamaw
(MGD)
Total Interbasin
Transfer (MGD)
2006 18.2 9.18 8.37 0.65 9.02
2010 20.04 10.06 9.24 0.75 9.99
2012 21.02 10.58 9.68 0.76 10.44
2020 24.96 12.24 11.92 0.80 12.72
2030 31.23 15.02 15.35 0.87 16.21
2040 37.50 18.21 18.35 0.94 19.29
Note: The flow amounts are only for the Northwest WTP and do not include flows from the 211 Groundwater WTP.

3 Preliminary Alternatives
During development of the EIS, alternatives to the requested increase in interbasin transfer will be
evaluated. The types of alternatives that are likely to be explored include:
· No action
· An increase in interbasin transfer to meet water demand in receiving river basins
· Avoiding interbasin transfer by using water sources in receiving river basins
· Avoiding interbasin transfer by returning wastewater to the source river basin
Brunswick IBT Scoping April 17, 2009

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4 Next Steps (EIS and IBT Petition)
Following four public meetings in April and the scoping process, the County will begin preparing an EIS.
It is expected that the following items will be discussed in the document:
· Project description, purpose and need
· Water supply, demand, and use
· Affected environment and environmental consequences
Direct impacts
Secondary and cumulative impacts
· Alternatives analysis
· Mitigation measures
Discussions are expected to include consideration of topography, soils, land use, wetlands, prime or
unique agricultural lands, public lands and scenic, recreational, and state natural areas, areas of
archaeological or historical value, air quality, noise, water resources, forest resources, shellfish, fish and
their habitat, wildlife and natural vegetation, endangered or threatened species, and the introduction of
toxic substances.
Analysis of direct, indirect (or secondary), and cumulative environmental impacts of the proposed action
and reasonable alternatives is required for the EIS. Potential analyses may include hydrologic analysis of
alternatives using the Cape Fear Hydrologic Model, water quality analysis within the lower Cape Fear
River and Estuary, and analysis of secondary impacts due to potential induced growth in the receiving
basin.
Following development of an EIS, the County and its co-applicants will prepare a petition for an
interbasin transfer for submittal to the EMC. By statute, factors considered by the EMC in determining
whether to issue a certificate must include:
· Necessary and reasonableness of the transfer
· Present and reasonable foreseeable future detrimental effects; and findings as to measures
necessary or advisable to mitigate or avoid detrimental impacts (applies to the source and
receiving basins)
· The cumulative effect on the source basin
· The availability of reasonable alternatives to the transfer
· If applicable, the use of impoundment storage capacity to store water
· Whether the service area of the applicant is in both the source and receiving basins
· Any other facts and circumstances that are reasonably necessary to implement the statute