Sewer Service Agreement - Download .pdf
Sunset Beach Property Owners in the Sunset Beach Wastewater Collection System Project Area:  If you desire sewer service, the first step in the process is to sign a Sewer Service Agreement indicating that you would like sewer service from Brunswick County. The Sewer Service Agreement is to be completed by the property owner -- please be sure to date and sign the Sewer Service Agreement; the Sewer Service Agreement does NOT need to be witnessed or notarized; do NOT complete/return the 3rd page - "Sewer Service Receipt". 

The completed Sewer Service Agreement may be submitted to the Town of Sunset Beach as part of the permit application process; mailed to the Brunswick County Public Utilities Customer Service Office, P. O. Box 469, Bolivia, NC  28422; or hand delivered to the Brunswick County Public Utilities Customer Service Office in Building I at the County Complex in Bolivia.

If you desire to connect to the sewer system, you must contact a plumber and/or electrician and obtain permits from the Town of Sunset Beach after submitting a signed Sewer Service Agreement form. Permits may be obtained from the Building Department at the Sunset Beach Town Hall.

On November 6, 2006, the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners approved an Agreement between the Town of Sunset Beach and Brunswick County for the construction of a wastewater collection system that would serve the areas within the Town without sewer service available.

Under the terms of the Agreement, the County agreed to design, apply for permits, and construct a sewer collection system that can provide sewer service to those lots within the corporate limits of the Town of Sunset Beach. The County also agreed to apply for permits and construct any and all transmission mains needed to transport wastewater from the sewer collection system described above from the Town to either a County-owned pump station or County-owned wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater generated within the sewer collection system will be treated at a County-owned facility. All facilities constructed under this Agreement will be owned, operated, and maintained by the County.

In the Agreement, the Town and County agreed that the property owners who receive benefit from the project would be assessed their proportionate share of the cost of the project. Property owners will not be assessed until all work is completed and the total cost of the project known. The County will provide the construction financing for the project and property owners will have ten years to pay their assessment after notification of the assessment amount.

Property owners with an existing structure that connects to the new wastewater collection system within one year of sewer service being made available will not be required to pay normal County Capital Recovery Fees and Sewer Transmission Fees. Property owners who connect after that one year period will be required to pay normal County connection fees. Also, all properties who connect to the new system will pay the same sewer rates as all other County residential customers.

• Sunset Beach Connection Assistance Program Guidelines
• Sunset Beach Connection Assistance Program Application
• Sunset Beach Connection Assistance Program Announcement

• Sunset Beach Wastewater Collection System Plumber List
• Sunset Beach Wastewater Collection System Electrician List

• Sunset Beach Wastewater Collection System Map

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

1. WHEN WILL SEWER SERVICE BE AVAILABLE? 

    A.  Mainland Gravity:  Property owners on the MAINLAND served by a gravity sewer main have sewer service available to their property today.

    B.  Mainland Low Pressure:  Property owners on the MAINLAND served by a low pressure sewer main must have a grinder pump station installed for sewer service.  The County's contractor is in the process of installing grinder pump stations at properties where a Sewer Service Agreement has been executed.  As the contractor completes the installation of the grinder pump, the contractor or County will contact the property owner to let them know that sewer service is available at their property.

    C.  Island Vacuum System:  Property owners on the ISLAND have sewer available to them April 16, 2012.  All property owners have received a letter from the County dated April 16, 2012, letting them know that sewer service is available to them.  

2. HOW WILL 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 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 Sunset Beach Town Council has recommended to the County Board of Commissioners that the per parcel method be used. At this time, the Board 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 vacuum type collection system, low pressure sewer system, or a gravity collection system. Sewer service on the island portion of the project will be provided using a vacuum type collection system. For this type of system, property owners will connect to a sewer service connected to a vacuum valve vault. For properties served by a low pressure sewer system, a service line that terminates in a valve box located at the property line will be installed. If the property owner desires to connect to the sewer system, a grinder pump station will be constructed on their property and the property owner would connect to the grinder pump station. 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 (currently $4,000) in effect at the time of connection. For those properties served by a low pressure sewer system, an additional grinder pump installation fee (currently $4,000) would be charged.

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. The homeowner 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. The homeowner will also be responsible for abandoning the septic system in conformance with the Town’s code. For homes that will be served by a low pressure sewer system, the homeowner will also be responsible for connecting the grinder pump station to the house electrical system.

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 mid-2012. Brunswick County has agreed with the Town of Sunset Beach Town Council’s request for a 10-year period for property owners to 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 that pay after the one-year period will pay up to 8% interest on the unpaid balance of the assessment (the interest rate is yet to be decided).

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.

Property owners who have an underground irrigation system need to mark the location of the irrigation system lines prior to installation of the grinder pump station.  Property owners who fail to mark the location of the irrigation system may be responsible for repairs.

Revised 4/24/2012