2015 North Carolina APPA
Individual Presentation (30 min.)
Title: Pender Commerce Park– Promoting Environmentally Conscious
Community Development
Subject Areas:
 Case Studies
 Environmental Enhancement with Reuse
 Public Outreach & Education
Speakers:
Jonathan Lanciani, President & CEO, Sustainable Water
Tim Baldwin, Senior Vice President, McKim & Creed
Michael Mack, Director, Pender County
Summary
Pender County is planning a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) at the Pender Commerce Park to serve
both the commerce park and the future wastewater treatment needs of the US Highway 421 corridor in New
Hanover County and Pender County. The system, known as a WaterHub™, will provide a turnkey solution
for an adaptive ecology based wastewater treatment system integrating several technological designs.
Abstract
Pender County, North Carolina is a very diverse county which affords a unique opportunity to create a
balanced economic base. The Pender County Department of Planning and Community Development
created standards to promote environmentally conscious growth and has been recognized for its
environmental efforts. The County will achieve additional recognition for positive environmental and
community development, while providing essential wastewater treatment services in conjunction with a
growth initiative. The Commerce Park will install a satellite wastewater treatment plant utilizing an
ecological-based reuse system and create industrial and economic growth for the area.
For over 20 years, municipal water authorities and large manufacturing companies have designed water
reclamation and reuse systems to save community water resources, reduce environmental impact, or
provide cost-saving opportunities. Satellite or on-site water reclamation provides a number of operational
and economic benefits by localizing a cheap source of clean water near end-users. Reusing wastewater
provides significant cost-savings by reducing potable water needs and potentially eliminating wastewater
discharge. Having a local backup supply of water on-site provides security from drought or municipal service
disruption.
The WaterHub™ delivers a community solution that will assist Pender in attracting additional growth and
development of the park by providing state of the art adaptive ecological solutions to common sanitary and
industrial treatment needs. Through a comprehensive plan based on community engagement, the county
will communicate and inform its citizens and prospective business ventures of the benefits and reliability of
the WaterHub.
Phase 1 will consist of the infrastructure required to accommodate a new industrial facility moving into the
commerce park. Phase 2 will be the balance of infrastructure with the 0.5 MGD WWTP planned to be
substantially complete near December 2015. Depending on the growth in the service area and the
development of the wastewater collection system, it is anticipated that future expansions of the plant will
likely replace this plant and develop in 3 to 4 MGD increments up to the 20 year planning period capacity
of 11 MGD.
This system is designed in compliance with all state and local permitting requirements. Additionally, the
EPA has developed Guidelines for Water Reuse and State and Federal regulatory oversight has
successfully provided a framework for many of the water recycling projects in the US. A Water Purchase
Agreement offers turn-key project support is provided and includes all engineering, permitting,
construction, commissioning (start-up services), and operational services.
Discussion will include specifics of the phases of the build out of the park and how this approach to water
reclamation and wastewater treatment can serve as a case study for treatment plants that have siting
challenges.