Kannapolis working to secure long-term water source

A Decade-Long Process

Concord and Kannapolis have allocated nearly 80 percent of their existing, long term available water supply. As mandated by state rules, the two cities were required to pursue alternative sources of water to meet future needs. This resulted in a state approval to transfer 10 million gallons per day (MGD) from the Yadkin River to Concord and Kannapolis and a 10 MGD transfer from the Catawba River.

Since the City was successful in getting an IBT agreement for the Yadkin and Catawba Rivers, Council can now move forward with building the infrastructure necessary to provide water for the next 30 years.

Partnering with Albemarle

In partnership with Concord and Albemarle, Kannapolis will be constructing a new water line that connects the Albemarle water system with the Concord-Kannapolis system.

Funding for this project will be used to construct nearly 16 miles of 30” water line running from Albemarle to Concord. Separate agreements between Concord and Kannapolis will send approximately 40 percent of the water to Kannapolis via existing or slightly modified connections between the two cities.

Over the past decade Albemarle has been impacted by the loss of numerous industrial customers to their water system. As a result of these changes, Albemarle now has excess treated water capacity and desires new customers to make up for these losses.

Route of the Line

The proposed water line will run parallel to NC 49 from an existing 30” stub near the intersection of NC 49 and Main Street in Richfield to the termination of an existing 30” line near the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center located at the intersection NC 49 and Old Airport Road. A portion of the water line will be constructed along Fisher Road, Moose Road, and NC 73 in order to avoid any major impact to existing development along NC 49.

Also associated with the project is the construction of two water booster stations, a ground storage tank, and approximately 12,000 feet of 24” line needed to access an existing elevated tank currently part of the City of Concord’s distribution system.

The existing elevated tank will act as the control point for the water entering Concord’s distribution system. That portion of the City’s system is presently served by Concord’s Coddle Creek Water Treatment Plant. Upon completion, flow can then be redirected to Kannapolis and other portions of Concord and Kannapolis’ service areas.

Paying for Infrastructure Costs

Undertaking a major infrastructure project like this one comes with significant expense. The total project cost is estimated at $21 million, with Kannapolis’s portion coming to $7.5 million. All three municipalities are working to find funding to pay for the line, including working to find grants from the federal government.

To pay for this waterline, which costs a total of $21 million ($7.5 million for Kannapolis), water rates for Kannapolis residents will increase. Grants, federal earmarks and other revenue sources are being pursued which would help reduce the cost to Kannapolis and Concord.

Effective July 1, the new base water rate is $4.65. This is an increase of $1.35*. Sewer fees and variable water rates remained unchanged.

*Those outside the city limits will have an increase of $1.62

Construction on the project is slated to begin next summer after engineering work is completed. Construction will take two years.