The connection waiver period will end on November 22, 2011.
Any property owner who requests sewer service after November 22, 2011, will pay the same connection fees as all other property owners who request sewer service.  The current connection fees are a $3,000 Sewer Capital Recovery Fee and a $1,000 Sewer Transmission Fee.  For property owners who request sewer service where service is provided by a low pressure sewer system, a $4,000 grinder pump installation fee will be charged if a grinder pump station was not installed as part of the Calabash Collection System Special Assessment District.  For property owners who signed a Sewer Service Agreement and had a grinder pump station installed on their property but do not connect during the one-year waiver period, the County will charge the Capital Recovery Fee, Transmission Fee, and a pump station start-up fee at such time that connection is made to the system.

The contractor for Brunswick County completed work on all improvements associated with the Calabash Special Assessment District in November 2010. All property owners in the Special Assessment District were notified that sewer service was now available.

The County Board of Commissioners approved a one-year waiver of normal connection fees for property owners in the Special Assessment District. The one-year waiver period will end on November 22, 2011.

For gravity customers who would like to connect to the County system during this one-year waiver period, the first step in the process is to submit an Application for Service to the Brunswick County Public Utilities Customer Service and Billing Office. The Customer Service and Billing Office is located in Building I at the County Complex in Bolivia and can be reached by calling 910-253-2655.

For low pressure sewer customers who would like to connect to the County sewer system, the next step in the process of connecting to the sewer system is to contract with a licensed electrician to connect the pump station control box to your household electrical system. When that work has been completed and approved by the Town, please call Brunswick County at 910-253-2657 and let us know that the electrical work has been completed. County staff will then install the actual grinder pumps in the grinder pump station. They will test the pumps to make sure that they work properly. The final step in the process is to contract with a plumber to connect the sewer main from your house to the grinder pump station.

To make the actual connection to the sewer system, you must also obtain a plumbing permit from the Town of Calabash. Plumbing permits may be obtained from the Building Official at Town Hall. If you need information about licensed plumbers in the area, the Town of Calabash can provide a list of licensed plumbers who have expressed interest in performing this type of work in Calabash and have been through training provided by the Town and County (lists are also available on this website – see Calabash Plumber List / Calabash Electrician List below).

For low to moderate income or handicapped property owners, Brunswick County and the Town of Calabash have implemented a Connection Reimbursement Program. Under the Connection Reimbursement Program, eligible property owners would receive reimbursement for one-half of the connection cost charged by a licensed plumber up to $500. Information on the program is available at the Calabash Town Hall and the Brunswick County Public Utilities Customer Service and Billing Office located in Building I at the County Complex in Bolivia.

The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners established a per parcel assessment method for assessment of $5,256.  Assessments may be paid to the Tax Collector of Brunswick County. Payments made in full by May 31, 2011, received a 5% discount.  After the discount date, payments may be paid in 10 annual installments of $526 with the first installment due without interest by June 30, 2011.  After June 30, 2011, simple interest is calculated at a rate of 4.69% per year.  Annual installments are due with interest no later than June 30 of each successive year.  Any annual installment not paid by June 30 in each successive year is considered delinquent.  Any delinquent balances will be collected by all lawful means.

• Calabash Plumber List
• Calabash Electrician List

• Calabash Wastewater Collection System Map

• Connection to a Low Pressure Sewer Main - .pdf
• Connection to a Gravity Sewer Main - .pdf
• Grinder Pump Station Homeowner Information - .pdf file

• Calabash Wastewater Collection System Schedule

1. WHEN WILL SEWER SERVICE BE AVAILABLE?
In 2007, Brunswick County entered into a contract with HDR Engineering , a national consulting engineering firm, to design the wastewater collection system within sections of the Town of Calabash that do not presently have sewer service available. The plans and specifications were completed in January 2009. Bids on the construction project were received on June 25, 2009. Based upon the size and complexity of the project, the estimated construction period is 12 months. We expect construction on the project to start in October 2009. Based upon this schedule, sewer service would available by October 2010.

2. HOW WILL BE THE ASSESSMENT AMOUNT FOR MY LOT BE DETERMINED?
The property owners who receive sewer service as a result of this project will be assessed their proportionate share of the cost of the total project cost. At this point in the project, we do not know what the total cost of the project will be. Also, the County Board of Commissioners has a number of options in determining how to allocate the total cost among the property owners receiving service. Under North Carolina law, the Board can allocate cost based upon the number of lots receiving service, the front footage of the lot on the street, the size of the parcel, or any combination of these methods. The Town of Calabash Board of Commissioners has recommended to the County Board of Commissioners that the per parcel method be used. At this time, the County Board of Commissioners has not made a decision on what method will be used to allocate the cost to the individual lot. All lots will be assessed using the same method.

3. WHAT TYPE OF SEWER SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED TO MY LOT?
Depending on the area, sewer service will be provided by a low pressure sewer system or a gravity collection system. For properties served by a low pressure sewer system, the property owner will connect to a grinder pump station that will be constructed on their property. For properties served by a gravity sewer main, the property owner will connect to a sewer service located at the street right-of-way or easement line.

4. WILL PROPERTY OWNERS BE REQUIRED TO CONNECT TO THE SEWER SYSTEM WHEN SERVICE IS AVAILABLE?
Brunswick County will not require existing homeowners to connect to the sewer system when service is available. During the first year of sewer service availability, Brunswick County will waive the Capital Recovery Fee for all existing homeowners who connect to the system. After that one-year period, property owners connecting to the system will be charged the Capital Recovery Fee in effect at the time of connection. The connection waiver period will end on November 22, 2011.

5. WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES WILL THE HOMEOWNER HAVE IF THEY WANT TO CONNECT TO THE SEWER SYSTEM?
Brunswick County will be responsible for constructing all of the sewer mains, force mains, and pump stations that will provide sewer service to the property. For properties connecting to the gravity system, the property owner will be responsible for contracting with a licensed plumber to disconnect the existing main that goes from the house to the septic system and connect that main to the sewer service installed by the County. For properties connecting to the low pressure sewer system, the property owner will be responsible for contracting with a licensed plumber to disconnect the existing main that goes from the house to the septic system and connect that main to the grinder pump station installed by the County and connecting the electrical control system for the grinder pump station to the electrical system of the structure. The property owner will also be responsible for abandoning the septic system in conformance with the Town’s code.

6. HOW LONG WILL A PROPERTY OWNER HAVE TO PAY THE ASSESSMENT?
Based upon the current schedule, the property owner will not receive their assessment until sometime in late 2010 or early 2011. Brunswick County has agreed with the Town of Calabash Board of Commissioners’ request for a 10-year period for property owners will have to pay their assessment. The County Board of Commissioners has also approved a reduction of 5% for those property owners who pay their assessment in full within 30 days of the notice of assessment. Property owners who pay after the one-year period will pay up to 8% interest on the unpaid balance of the assessment.

7. HOW WILL PROPERTY OWNERS BE IMPACTED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS?
Most construction that will occur as a result of this project will be conducted within the street rights-of-way. Property owners who have constructed improvements within the right-of-way such as shrubbery and landscaping will be given an opportunity to relocate their shrubbery or landscaping in advance of the construction.