By Megan V. Williams
Wilmington, NC – Wilmington's water treatment plant is about to start a $70 million dollar renovation and expansion.
The city plans to eventually increase the capacity of the Sweeney treatment plant by more than 16 million gallons a day, from 27.5 to 44 mgd. When renovations are complete, the plant will have a permitted capacity of 35 mgd, and the ability to treat another 9 million gallons a day.
In recent years, demand on the plant has averaged close to 80% of capacity during the summer, the region's peak use season, according to Sweeney Plant Superintendent Mike Richardson.
Richardson says the city will tear down an entire section of the plant during the course of renovations.
"The oldest part of the plant is starting to show its wear and tear after over 60-plus years of treating water and it was decided we probably needed to demolish the oldest part of the plant."
Richardson says the expansion will meet the city's future demands and possibly allow for service to some southern sections of the county and the beach towns.
"The possibility exists that Sweeney could be serving a larger portion of the area, to some degree. All those details have not been truly worked out at this point, but are being looked at."
Upgrades to Wilmington's water treatment plant are expected to take the next three years.
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Read the City's Environmental Assessment for the Sweeney Water Treatment Plant.
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