Water Resources Annual Report 2023-25

City of Greensboro Water Resources Department

WATER RESOURCES

ANNUAL REPORT July 2023 - June 2025

From Our Director

Central North Carolina continues to grow, which provides new opportunities for the City of Greensboro and neighboring communities. To support these efforts, the Water Resources Department is modeling and working strategically to plan for additional demands on public water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities.

Lake Higgins

The 2023 Water Master Plan and the 2024 Sewer Master Plan illustrate the department’s strategies. Both plans build off the 2020 Wastewater and Water Capacity Planning Project and the 2022 Wastewater Capacity Permitting Study. The department also completed plans for three urban sub-watershed basins (Horse Pen Creek, North Buffalo Creek, and South Buffalo Creek) to guide funding for capital project efforts that address environmental, drainage, and flooding issues. Also in response to the region’s new developments, Greensboro’s City Council requested updated policies to support planned growth outside of the city. In April 2024, the Council approved and adopted the updated City of Greensboro Utility Extension Policy for Areas Outside of the City Limits. The policy provides clear guidance for private utility extension and requests for connections to the City’s public utilities, including direction for interlocal government agreements. In addition, the Council developed and approved a water and sewer interlocal agreement with the Town of Pleasant Garden, an important strategic partnership for both communities. As we continue to focus on strategic utility service and capacity partnerships, expect more agreements that benefit our community and region. I’m excited by the future and look forward to new opportunities to demonstrate our department’s commitment to excellent service and stewardship.

By the Numbers

Sincerely, Mike Borchers

JULY 23-JUNE 24 JULY 24-JUNE 25 *

Sewer Overflows Sanitary Sewer Overflows

50 11

48

Overflows Due to Improper Grease Disposal

9

Untreated Wastewater (in Gallons)

468,580

724,325

Waterline & Sewer Repairs & Maintenance Water Main Breaks Cost to Repair Water Main Breaks Sewer Pipes Smoke Tested (in Linear Feet) Sewer Pipes Repaired or Replaced (in Linear Feet) Environmental Compliance Water Supply Water Tests Conducted Water Reclamation Water Tests Conducted

199

220

$120,647 253,432

$546,383 135,788

15,774

37,935

74,048 48,273

66,665 49,916

*Figures listed through May 2025

How Water Resources is Working Toward Its Strategic Goals

We’re Using Innovation to Enhance Safety and Service

In 2024, the Water Resources Department deployed more than 7,000 Sensus ally® meters and 32 pressure sensors to monitor and optimize pressure around the distribution system. The department also upgraded its small meter test bench from a manual operating system to a state-of-the-art, automated meter test bench. The new setup performs needed calculations and records test results. It accurately tests the ultrasonic meters compatible with the City’s new advanced metering infrastructure system. The new system can now test as little as under a quarter gallon of water.

Operational Efficiency

The new Sandy Creek Lift Station opened in 2024 to serve the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite.

We’re Growing Stronger by Investing in Our Greatest Resource The department supported organizational development through industry-specific training organizations like the American Water Works Association and NC One Water’s Collection and Distribution School. Water Resources increased its talent pipeline by developing journey-level positions for plant operators and lab/pretreatment specialists in the Water Supply and Water Reclamation divisions. On January 1 2024, the department welcomed 37 construction and maintenance employees who were transferred to Stormwater Division as part of the city’s reorganization of Field Operations. Prior to the reorganization, stormwater construction and maintenance activities were conducted through a cross-departmental relationship. This direct placement strengthens the Division’s ability and efficiency managing field construction and maintenance projects. By collaborating with Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP), the department signed two additional apprentices as electronic technicians to “learn as they earn.” Through the GAP program, apprentices can earn money on the job as soon as they start the apprenticeship and also take college classes at no cost.

Employee Training and Organizational Development

Cascade aerators at the T.Z. Osborne Water Reclamation Facility treat wastewater before its release into South Buffalo Creek.

We’re Working Sustainably to Conserve and Protect All Waters The Industrial Waste Section completed the Special Order by Consent for 1,4-Dioxane. In 2021, the Environmental Management Commission, Department of Environmental Quality, and City of Greensboro successfully negotiated a three-year Special Order by Consent (SOC). This SOC reduced the levels of 1,4-Dioxane leaving the T.Z. Osborne (TZO) Water Reclamation Facility by 97% and limited impact on downstream water supplies. The SOC requires a comprehensive source study, a public awareness program, allocations for industrial users, continued collaboration and oversight of indirect sources of 1,4-dioxane, TZO wastewater treatment plant effluent compliance values, annual reports, and stipulated civil penalties for noncompliance. The department collected over 2,100 samples at a cost of around $250,000, including 32 permitted industrial-user sites twice per year and 26 other sites that included industrial, commercial, domestic, drinking water, and surface water. All annual reports, including data and narratives, reside on the City’s website. Camp Burton Road Sewershed improvements included a planning study to abandon four sewer lift stations near northeast Greensboro with a large gravity interceptor and basin sewer lift station. The study was completed and the department finished 80% of the Camp Burton Lift Station. Subsequent construction will include a gravity interceptor extending to abandon the first of the four sewer lift stations. The Water Resources Department is participating in the Jordan Lake Rules re adoption process. These State of North Carolina regulations were passed in 2009 and sought to reduce nutrients in Jordan Lake. The lake gets most of its water from the Haw River, which originates in Greensboro. The City hopes to encourage affordable and reasonable requirements that benefit all Haw River and Jordan Lake users by participating in the re-adoption process.

Infrastructure and Resource Resiliency

Product and Service Quality

We’re Striving to be the Best for Our Customers The T.Z. Osborne Water Reclamation Facility received the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) 2023 Gold Peak Performance Award. The gold award recognizes 100% permit compliance for an entire calendar year. Treatment facility applicants are publicly owned by a current NACWA member agency and in operation for at least one month or more during a calendar year. Treatment facilities must provide, at minimum, secondary treatment or advanced primary treatment with a 301(h) waiver. The City’s Townsend and Mitchell water plants have received electrical upgrades to meet community needs and expectations. Other enhancements include: • installation of a second generator fueled by natural gas instead of diesel fuel • removal and replacement of older, finished water pumps that are challenging to repair • completion of designs to install new technologies that remove forever chemicals in drinking water.

2025 Water Festival

We’re Building Meaningful Relationships with Communities From April to October, the department hosts monthly “Foodie Fests” at the Kitchen Operations Center. This public event brings local food trucks together and has reinforced community engagement. Since July 2023, 27 trucks have participated. The Water Resources Department took swift action in September 2024 following the destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. While facing significant challenges, employees from multiple divisions in the department assisted by restoring water, providing a detailed map of a town’s water and sewer infrastructure, and creating a bond that will carry into everything the department does moving forward. The department collaborated with City Police, Fire, Parks & Recreation, and Libraries departments, plus many external organizations, for the 2025 Water Festival. This educational adventure helped fifth-grade students better understand the water cycle, weather’s impact on water supply, water testing, aquatic ecosystems, and conservation.

In May 2025, the department launched GSO WaterWise , which makes it easier for customers to

monitor their water use. The new portal gives customers real-time insights to better manage their water use, detect leaks early, and save money.

Customer and Community Engagement

WATER RESOURCES

www.greensboro-nc.gov/Water | 336-373-2055 | 2602 S. Elm-Eugene St., Greensboro, NC 27406