BY MILES LAYTON

EDENTON — A wastewater treatment plant that had been running nearly a decade beyond its intended lifespan has finally been replaced.

I remember when replacing the plant was just a dream but Thursday, Town officials and community members gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate Edenton’s new $11 million facility, an infrastructure upgrade officials say will secure the town’s future for decades. Truly, this is a big deal for our community!

“This is going to be a great improvement to our infrastructure that will not only improve water quality for residents for years to come, but also allow our town to grow,” Mayor Hackney High said.

Long Overdue Upgrades

The overhaul marks the first major investment in the town’s wastewater system since the early 1980s. The old plant, now nearly 40 years old, had operated many years past its expected service life. Town leaders agreed that continued reliance on outdated equipment was unsustainable.

“These things typically have a life of around 30 years, so it was long overdue,” High explained.

The new system, located at 614 Macedonia Road, expands capacity and modernizes the way Edenton treats and purifies wastewater. In total, it will serve approximately 2,300 households across town, as well as downtown businesses, the North Edenton Industrial Park, and properties surrounding the airport.

Partnership with USDA

The project has been in the works for nearly a decade. In 2018, the town partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to secure the necessary funding and technical guidance.

Financing came through a mix of federal loans and grants. The USDA package included a $5.1 million grant and a $5.9 million loan, which the town will pay off over 40 years. The grant portion significantly lowered the town’s annual debt burden.

“Without the grant funding, this would have been a far heavier lift,” said Town Manager Corey Gooden. “The grant represents nearly half the project, and that allowed us to reduce the annual debt service by about 50 percent.”

Impact on Residents

Gooden explained that while sewer bills will not be reduced from the most recent water and sewer rate change, the project will provide long-term stability for households.

“No, the sewer portion of customers’ bills will not be lowered,” Gooden said. “However, the stability created with the blend of USDA loan and grant funding will allow the town to stabilize the long-term cost for this service.”

He added that the new system’s efficiency will protect ratepayers from steep increases in the years ahead, ensuring the system remains financially sustainable as Edenton grows.

Building for the Future

For town officials, the ribbon-cutting represented more than just the completion of a long-delayed construction project. It symbolized the community’s ability to prepare for growth and safeguard its natural environment.

“This project isn’t just about keeping the lines flowing,” High said. “It’s about making sure Edenton has the infrastructure it needs to grow, to attract business, and to protect our environment.”

USDA representatives joined local leaders and community members at the ceremony, many of whom had tracked the project since its early planning stages. For residents, the event marked the end of years of waiting and the start of a more secure future for Edenton’s water system.

A Turning Point

After years of piecemeal fixes, Edenton now has a modern wastewater treatment plant designed to last decades. For a town with just over 5,000 residents, the investment represents one of the largest infrastructure commitments in recent memory.

As the ribbon was cut, the moment reflected both relief and optimism. A system that had once limped along nine years past its prime now stands renewed — ready to serve thousands of residents, businesses, and future generations of Edentonians.

“Today is about progress,” Gooden said. “This plant will carry us forward, giving Edenton the resources it needs to thrive.”