Time is money. Use yours wisely. Bryan McCabe, PE | Pender County Utilities J. Ray Cox, PE | Highfill Infrastructure Engineering

Presentation outline  Pender County water utility history  Why schedule was critical  Key time-saving decisions  Pre-project  Preliminary engineering  Design  Summary  Progress update

Pender County Water Utility History

Water and Sewer Districts PENDER COUNTY Rocky Point/Topsail Scotts Hill Maple Hill Central Pender Moore’s Creek Columbia-Union

System capabilities, growth and financing  General Obligation (GO) bonds  November 7, 2006  $72 M for MCWSD and CPWSD  7 years for GO bond sale (November 7, 2013)  One 3-year extension approved (November 7, 2016)  Pender County water supply capabilities  Original system  System growth  Water treatment plant

The Challenge Maximize service capabilities under the original referendum Define project Identify financing source Execute before referendum expires

The Challenge Define the project

Basis for referendum (master plan)  Moore’s Creek WSD  1,027,000 LF of pipe up to 42-in diameter  1 elevated tank  1 booster pump station  $45 M  Central Pender WSD  600,000 LF of pipe up to 16- inch diameter  2 elevated tanks  $27 M  Total: 308 miles of pipe, 3 tanks, and 1 booster station

Determine what is feasible  Identify system for 20-year needs  Consider projected customer density  Consider anticipated customer interest  Determine hydraulic requirements  238 miles of mains; 1 elevated tank  Identify Phase I system for affordable rates  Existing customer density and interest  Size lines to fit 20-year system  75.5 miles of mains; 1 elevated tank

The Challenge Identify financing source

 Reviewed available sources  Decided to pursue USDA funding  $18.9 M  $11.3 M (loan)  $7.4 M (grant – 40%)  $160 k (local)

The Challenge Beat the referendum deadline

Primary project milestones Begin PER November 2013 Design Complete April 2015 Bidding August 2015 Bond Sale October 2016  PER, EA for USDA  Design, permitting and construction  75.5 miles of mains up to 16-in diameter  0.5 MG elevated storage tank

Key Time-Saving Decisions

Pre-project selection  Consultant teaming  Identified critical project success factors  Established preliminary schedule and critical path  Began coordination with potential funding agencies  Positioned client to choose USDA at project outset  Allowed coordination in earnest immediately after selection

Preliminary engineering  Aerial survey  Drawing scale and style determined at this stage  Master schedule  Public outreach and incentivized pricing for customer recruitment  Identified built-out system for planning period  Backed into the Phase I project based on anticipated customers  Conducted hydraulic modeling to ensure proper function of Phase I and built-out systems

Design  Master schedule  Multiple design teams  Project implementation manual  Weekly production team coordination meetings  Weekly owner PM updates/coordination  Accelerated design development of certain components  State Property Office (2 crossings of NE Cape Fear River)  NCDOT (I-40 Crossing)  Early communication with reviewers  Minimized required easements  Continued proactive communication with USDA

Summary  PCU is committed to providing potable water to citizens wherever feasible  Sometimes project timelines are legitimately compressed  Project planning must be sound at early stages to ensure success  The plan is only as good as the team carrying it out  Owner  Consultants  Funding agency  Regulatory agencies

Progress update  USDA funding committed  Project bidding schedule  Project construction schedule

Time is money. Use yours wisely. Bryan McCabe, PE PCU J. Ray Cox, PE HIGHFILL DISCUSSION