RIBBON CUTTING CELEBRATES OPENING OF NEW WATER RESOURCES FACILITY
The public is invited to a ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of the City’s new Water Resources Operations Facility, located at 527 Highway 55 West. The ceremony will begin at 11am on Wednesday, December 12th.
This new, 18,750 square foot facility opened in August 2018 and staff moved in to the facility two weeks before hurricane Florence. The building suffered no damage during the storm. The facility houses Water Resources administration and operations that were previously located in separate facilities on Neuse Boulevard and Kale Road. The consolidation of staff and equipment allows the division to operate more efficiently with more space for equipment repair, fueling, project collaboration, meetings, safety briefings, and more. Additional operational efficiencies were gained by constructing the new facility on the same site as the City’s water treatment plant. Forty-one employees will work at the new Water Resources Operations Facility.
The new building is comprised of 7,000 square feet of office and administrative space, 5,000 square feet of small equipment and material storage, and 6,750 square feet of large equipment storage and a pump repair shop. There is also on-site fueling capability. Construction began in November 2017 and took less than a year to complete. The cost to build the facility totaled $1.4 million dollars.
“This facility meets the immediate and future needs of our water resources divisions and allows our staff to finally be under one roof,” said City Engineer Jordan Hughes. “This move also creates a reuse opportunity for the Neuse Boulevard facility, so it’s a win-win for all of us.”
The City’s Water Resources Division protects and enhances the health and economic stability of the community through the provision of clean drinking water and proper wastewater treatment. The division maintains the City’s water and sewer infrastructure, sets design standards and specifications for projects that will become part of the City’s water and/or sewer systems, recommends upgrades and expansions, and maintains a highly skilled staff capable of deploying at a moment’s notice to respond to water and sewer emergencies.
Wednesday’s ribbon cutting will include brief remarks and a tour of the facility.