In the summer of 2002, the City of Lexington, like many municipalities in the region, was faced with mandatory water restrictions stemming from the on-going drought.  The restrictions, consequently, jeopardized the health of the turf grass at the City owned 18-hole golf course, which utilized potable water from the City’s water system for irrigation.  The golf course was also scheduled to be renovated, so the City explored opportunities for alternative sources of irrigation water to protect their investment.

Implementation of a “Satellite” Reclaimed Water Treatment Facility built at the golf course was quickly identified as a viable alternative.  Willis Engineers was hired by the City to assist them in securing funding for the project and then to design and oversee construction of the Facility.  The Satellite Facility, funded in part by the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund, includes a 300,000 gallon per day wastewater treatment plant and a 500,000 gallon effluent storage tank.  Wastewater is intercepted from an outfall conveying wastewater past the golf course, treated to meet water reuse standards and spray irrigated throughout the golf course.  All excess treated effluent, drains and waste sludge are returned to the outfall for treatment at the City’s NPDES Permitted Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Construction of this innovative project was completed in December 2006 at a cost of approximately $1,400,000.  The City has since expanded the permitted uses of the reclaimed water to include vehicle washing, soil compaction for construction purposes and street sweeping.