Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
15 <br /> EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> 1778 — 1994 <br /> In 1778, the Village of Salem installed 332 wooden rods of water pipes. The cost <br /> of these pipes was approximately $2,000.00 and the average citizen compensated the <br /> village at a rate of 9 pence per four weeks, regardless of the usage. Later, these wooden <br /> pipes were replaced with clay and still later the pipes were replaced with iron and a <br /> cistern in an attempt at providing the best possible service. This glimpse of the area's <br /> oldest utilities management shows how service was a primary issue for local governing <br /> officials. The desire to serve constituents effectively and efficiently was an important <br /> value back in 1778 that remains today. By the mid 1970's, City of Winston-Salem and <br /> Forsyth County Officials were faced with considerable water and sewer service <br /> challenges. Thus, consolidation of the two separate water systems became an option to <br /> consider. <br /> Beginning in the mid 1960's, City and County leaders begin talking about <br /> consolidation. This need was confirmed by an engineering firm, Piatt and Davis, who was <br /> hired to review the situation and the demographics. They recommended that all water and <br /> wastewater services be placed under a single authority that would not necessarily be <br /> identified with the county or a municipality. From this recommendation, committees <br /> were formed but talks stalled until late 1973 when a new committee was established. <br /> This group was faced with the subject of timing, because by then, there was no doubt that <br /> consolidation would occur. Discussions continued through various committees and <br /> negotiations on specify took some time. In April of 1976, an abruptly called special <br /> meeting brought the issue to a close. Consolidation was approved, albeit by a very narrow <br /> margin. Along with consolidation came provisions such as the following: 1) the facilities <br /> would be owned by the City, 2) the City would pay the utility debt of the County, 3) the <br /> City would provide water and sewer services to the consolidated area, 4) utilities would <br /> operate on an enterprise fund, and most importantly, 5) the formation of the City/County <br /> Utility Commission. <br /> Soon after its formation, the Commission had to deal with many major projects <br /> that soon became milestones for the organization. The first major project was the 201 <br /> plan. This plan was in response to EPA mandated legislation that required public utilities <br /> to better clean the wastewater being discharged into raw water sources. Unlike many <br /> other public utilities, the Commission had been studying this issue and was able to submit <br /> its 201 plan in a timely fashion. Consequently, the City/County Utility Commission <br /> received a grant from the EPA which paid for 75% of the $70 million environmental <br /> improvements. These included sewer line and wastewater plant improvements, <br /> construction of new lines, construction of the Muddy Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, <br /> and a regional laboratory and maintenance building at the Archie Elledge Plant. <br /> Another milestone came in 1990 when the City/County Utility Commission <br /> assumed responsibility for the Solid Waste Disposal Management Program. A Citizen <br /> Task Force was formed and based on their recommendations, the City/County Utility <br /> Commission began to operate a comprehensive Waste Management System that included <br /> aggressive long-term plan for waste disposal and funded curbside recycling for the City <br /> of Winston-Salem as well as many other recycling/waste reduction programs. <br /> 1 <br />