Study: Campbell sewer growth not feasible

Future sewer expansion in southern Campbell County is not economically feasible because of several factors, including low population density.

That was the key finding in the second part of a study looking at future sewer lines throughout the county. It compared population growth projections along with the costs of installing and operating those lines.

The study, which was released last week, looked at four areas to see whether future growth down the road could make it financially possible for public sewer lines to be extended. They were: areas of Rustburg between the village and U.S. 29, areas north of Altavista, undeveloped portions of Brookneal in the town limits and the Concord area near the intersection of U.S. 460 and Virginia 24.

The study found those areas were “too isolated and too sparsely populated” for lines to be cost effective, said Mike Damron, Campbell County Utilities and Services Authority administrator.

“Also, the routes that the sewer gradient portions would be taken are relatively remote and have rough terrain that would increase construction costs. So when we put all those factors together, it doesn’t seem feasible.”

The study did recommend that public sewer lines be extended to the Seneca Commerce Park on U.S. 29, just south of Yellow Branch Elementary School. A preliminary engineering report was done and the authority recently submitted a grant application to the Tobacco Commission to help pay for the $860,000 first phase of the $2 million project, Damron said.

Another key recommendation in the study is for the authority to adopt on-site sewage treatment guidelines, something Damron said he hopes the board will discuss in October.

The first part of the study, which was released last year, found that future growth near Lynchburg would best be served by a new sewer main running along the eastern fringe of Candlers Mountain.

Authority wants to increase new customers' fees

Campbell County Utilities and Services Authority wants to increase fees related to new customers connecting to sewer and water lines.

The availability and connection fees have not been updated in five years, Mike Damron said.

The proposed increase would increase availability fees to $1,900 for water, up from $1,500 currently; and $2,200 for sewer, up from $1,900.

Connection fees would increase to $1,500 for water, up from $950; and $1,900 for sewer, up from $750.

The minimum connection fee for commercial development would increase to $2,100 for water and $2,700 for sewer, up from $1,100 for water and $900 for sewer.

“What we found was the cost of our contractor to install sewer and water connections has just increased dramatically, so we’re losing money on every connection,” Damron said. “The proposed increase is just to cover our costs. We don’t make any money on connections and we shouldn’t make money on new connections, but we should at least cover costs.”

Money from availability fees goes toward capital improvement expenses.

A public hearing was slated for the end of September, but has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at the CCUSA office on Timberlake Road. For more information, call the Campbell County Utilities and Services Authority at (434) 239-8654.

— Sarah Watson