After months of thoughtful discussion to explore the feasibility and merits of a consolidation of water and sewer systems, the Town of Wrightsville Beach and the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority have agreed to a consolidation. The Town of Wrightsville Beach is dedicated to keeping its residents informed with the most accurate information throughout this transition. Below are some frequently asked questions that we feel may answer any concerns regarding the consolidation.

What is happening?

Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) and the Town of Wrightsville Beach have finalized an agreement to consolidate their water and sewer systems. Under this agreement, in September 2025 CFPUA will assume ownership and management of the Town of Wrightsville Beach’s water and sewer infrastructure, and Wrightsville Beach water and sewer customers will become CFPUA customers. The consolidation agreement was reached after a state- funded feasibility study and nearly two years of negotiations between CFPUA and the Town of Wrightsville Beach.

Why is this consolidation taking place?

In 2022, CFPUA and the Town of Wrightsville Beach received a Regionalization Feasibility grant to fund a consolidation study. The study found that consolidating the Town of Wrightsville Beach’s water and sewer systems into the CFPUA system would carry multiple benefits for the agencies and their customers. This consolidation will not only address the much-needed rehabilitation of the town’s aging water and sewer infrastructure, including hardware and software systems, but it will also address the growing demand for water on Wrightsville Beach due to well contamination, seasonal visitors, and structural issues. 

How long will it take for the consolidation to be complete?

The full transition will take 12-15 months and is expected to wrap in September 2025. It is important to note that until that time, Wrightsville Beach water and sewer customers will remain customers of the town for all services, including billing and customer service. 

How will the consolidation impact my utility rates?

After the final transition in September 2025, Wrightsville Beach customers will pay the same rates and fees as other CFPUA customers. Although CFPUA and the Town of Wrightsville Beach have different rate structures, both result in approximately the same average revenue per customer, according to an analysis completed as part of the consolidation study. Usage and other factors will determine how individual customers’ bills may change under CFPUA’s rate structure. 

What are the benefits of the Town of Wrightsville Beach and CFPUA consolidation?

The Town of Wrightsville Beach’s residents will experience multiple benefits with the consolidation, including:

• Significant infrastructure improvements in the Town of Wrightsville Beach, with more than $23.5 million in planned investments.
• Secure water supply for Wrightsville Beach customers, replacing groundwater wells with a secure water supply from the mainland.
• Additional reliability and redundancy of water supply and wastewater treatment, as new water and wastewater lines are installed to link the town to the mainland.
• Drinking water treated at the Sweeney Water Treatment Plant, which has the most advanced treatment technology in North Carolina. (Visit www.CFPUA.org/sweeney for more information.)
• Cost control and cost fairness for customers of both CFPUA and the Town of Wrightsville Beach. 

What disruptions can I expect to my service or water?  How long will they last?

In the coming year, there may be brief, temporary disruptions for some customers associated with some of the infrastructure work. The Town of Wrightsville Beach will be working closely with CFPUA to communicate these disruptions ahead of time, as needed. 

How will the consolidation impact customer service?

Consolidation will not impact customer service. In fact, the Town of Wrightsville Beach customers will receive the exact same high-quality service that CFPUA customers receive, at the same price. 

What will happen to the Town of Wrightsville Beach water and sewer employees?

All current Town of Wrightsville Beach water and sewer employees will be offered a position at CFPUA, pending the regular screening process required of new CFPUA employees. 

Where will my water come from as a CFPUA customer?

Wrightsville Beach has been a wholesale customer of CFPUA for years, receiving nearly half of its drinking water from the company. This water is distributed from the Sweeney Water Treatment Plant, which has the most advanced treatment technology in North Carolina.  Sweeney uses granular activated carbon filters, which are highly effective at treating drinking water, removing PFAS to at or near non-detectable levels. To find out more about this process, visit www.CFPUA.org/sweeney. Some of the drinking water distributed to Wrightsville Beach customers will continue to come from the town’s groundwater wells for some time as infrastructure is built and improved. The goal is eventually for Sweeney to be the source of all the town’s drinking water, with the town’s drinking water wells being converted to emergency wells.

Should I cancel my online bill pay, recurring payment, or bank draft with the Town now that water and sewer services are moving to CFPUA?

No. There is no need to make any changes to your existing payment setup with the Town. Your account with the Town of Wrightsville Beach will remain active and continue to be used for billing trash and stormwater services. Your account number will stay the same, and any automatic payment arrangements you’ve made with the Town, including online bill pay, recurring credit card payments, or bank drafts, will continue without interruption. While CFPUA is asking customers to set up new accounts and AutoPay for water and sewer services, that is separate from your Town account. You may need to set up new payment preferences with CFPUA, but no action is required on the Town side if your current payment method is already in place.

I currently have autopay set up for my Town of Wrightsville Beach water and sewer bill, as well as for trash and stormwater. How will payments work after the utility consolidation on September 30??

Beginning September 30, water and sewer services will be billed separately by the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA), and customers will need to set up new payment arrangements with CFPUA for those services. Instructions for setting up an online account and Autopay through CFPUA’s customer self-service portal were included in letters mailed to Wrightsville Beach customers in early August. 

However, your account with the Town of Wrightsville Beach will remain active and will continue to be used for billing trash and stormwater services. These services are not transferring to CFPUA. 

If you currently have any form of automated payment set up with the Town, including online bill pay, autodraft via ach, or recurring credit card payments through our MuniciPAY portal, you do not need to make any changes to continue paying for trash and stormwater services. Your account number with the Town will stay the same, and you will continue to receive a bill from the Town using that number. 

Even though the water and sewer portion of your bill will be moving to CFPUA, the Town will still send a bill for the remaining services. Please do not cancel your existing payment arrangements.