Camden Wastewater Plan Moves Through Modeling as Backup Basin Option Advances

Camden County’s wastewater planning remains in motion as the county waits for modeling results tied to its wastewater plant and potential discharge permits.

During the May 4 Board of Commissioners meeting, county staff said the wastewater plant is still being run through a model. Once that work is complete, the results are expected to be presented to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

The county hopes the review will help move questions forward involving discharge permits.

Staff also described a backup option: converting the county’s current spray field into a high-rate infiltration basin.

According to the update, early information from the company studying that option indicates the approach may be feasible for roughly 1 million to 1.2 million gallons per day using the current spray field.

That backup plan matters because Camden County’s wastewater capacity is closely tied to growth, infrastructure planning and the county’s ongoing subdivision moratorium.

If the county does not receive the discharge permit it is seeking, the high-rate infiltration basin could become an important alternative.

The update also included the county’s Clearwell project. Staff said engineering and design work for that project has been completed.

County officials are now working through grant-related steps before putting the project out to bid. Staff said the goal is to get the project out to bid in June or July.

For Camden residents, the wastewater update is more than an engineering issue. Sewer capacity affects growth, development approvals, school planning, housing pressure and the county’s long-term ability to serve residents.

Camden Tribune will continue following wastewater capacity, NCDEQ review, the Clearwell project and county infrastructure decisions tied to Camden’s growth.