In June, female firefighters from Cary, Apex, and Morrisville created and hosted Camp Ignite, a free summer day camp for high-school-age girls, to introduce them to firefighting and public safety jobs and encourage empowerment, confidence, teamwork, and leadership. Versions of this weeklong camp exist in a few other cities, including Charlotte, Greensboro, and Chapel Hill, but this is the first one in Wake County. Twenty campers spent days at Cary Fire Station 7, Morrisville Fire Stations 21 and 22, Apex Fire Station 36, Crabtree Lake, and Bond Park. The majority of each department’s female firefighters participated and instructed, as well as female firefighters from Raleigh and Youngsville fire departments. Campers learned how to force doors, flow water from hose lines, climb the aerial truck ladder, and get victims out of cars using hydraulic tools, as well as various EMS skills, water rescue, land navigation, and so much more. They ended the week with fun on the Bond Park Challenge Course and their very own graduation at the Cary Senior Center. By the end of the week, eight campers stated that they wanted to become firefighters. Several said they had a lot more insight and appreciation for firefighters, and most expressed interest in returning to the camp in the future. 

The 2023 Water Resources Year in Review report provides meaningful snapshots and historical trends about Cary’s excellent utility service. This year’s report includes an update on Cary’s per capita usage as well as the water demand of the overall Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility service area. Cary has steadily reduced consumption from a record high of 72 gallons used per person per day since 1995. Last year’s average of 48 gallons used per person per day is a consistent trend, and the average demand last year was 23.1 million gallons per day. Cary experienced its highest single-day demand of 30.5 mgd on Aug. 25. To learn more visit bit.ly/carywater2023.

The 2023 Water Quality Report, summarizing hundreds of thousands of tests performed on Cary’s drinking water, is now available at carync.gov/waterreport. The report highlights Cary’s preparation for upcoming regulatory changes and showcases the efforts of dedicated staff, who ensure the production of high-quality tap water. 

As the fiscal year came to a close, so did the Downtown Water Main Replacement Project. This project replaced 8,200 linear feet of water main within the downtown area. Additionally, infrastructure improvements to Cary’s sanitary sewer, stormwater collection system, curb and gutter, sidewalks, and roadways were made on South Harrison Avenue, West Park Street, Page Street, West Street, and Byrum Street.

This spring also saw the completion of the Howland Avenue Water Main Replacement Project. After being identified for water main replacement, Howland Avenue experienced several water main breaks, resulting in the project being expedited. Construction of the 3,000 linear feet of water main began in January 2024 and was completed in just five months. Roadway resurfacing is occurring along Howland Avenue as part of Cary’s FY 2024 Street Improvements Project.

Always trying to take a proactive approach, Cary kicked off the next Annual Water Main Replacement Project in June. It will pick up where the recently completed Howland Avenue project left off by replacing the remaining water mains in the Oakwood Heights neighborhood. It also includes water main replacement along Boyd Street and new connections along Downing Glen Drive, Midland Valley Way, and Elmhaven Way to support system resiliency. The project will replace approximately 4,100 linear feet of water main and is expected to take 12 months to complete.

This quarter, Cary introduced renewable propane to its fleet by installing propane fuel kits to 20 police vehicles. These kits will allow for seamless switching between gasoline and renewable propane, enhance operational flexibility, and serve as a key strategy to help reduce Cary’s carbon footprint.

Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility was chosen as a state-of-the-art facility for visitors from Jordan to observe successful biosolids management operations. The visit by members of the Jordanian ministries of health, agriculture, and the environment was organized by Dr. Robert Rubin from North Carolina State University with support from the United States Agency for International Development. Cary staff gave its visitors a presentation on the benefits of biosolids reuse and a tour of the biosolids processing facilities.

This quarter, Cary completed the installation of a new water main and sidewalk along Northwest Maynard Road between High House Road and Old Apex Road. Anticipated to take 12 months to complete, Cary proactively worked with the contractor to finish four months early and remain within budget. The project closed an existing 1,700-foot gap in the sidewalk and improved pedestrian safety. The new 3,500 feet of 24-inch water main reinforces Cary’s water transmission capacity. The project also included roadway resurfacing, striping, and new curb along impacted areas.

Cary has been hard at work identifying the pipe material of water system service lines to complete the service line inventory required by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Revision. Since January, Cary has received a great response from residents, either identifying their privately owned pipe materials or requesting a complimentary inspection. Cary is also working with utility locators to physically verify the materials on Cary’s side of water service line. Both the public (main to meter) and private (meter to structure) sides of all service lines must be identified. Over 1,100 water services have been fully verified on both the public and private side of the same service line. To date, there remain no known lead services in Cary.

While no lead services have been found, the service line inventory has identified seven private and seven public water service lines made of galvanized steel. Galvanized steel not only eventually rusts and becomes brittle, but it could potentially accumulate lead if there was ever lead present upstream of the system. Without records to confirm there was never lead upstream, the EPA requires galvanized steel water services to be replaced. Cary has already contracted to replace the ones on the public side and is working closely with the impacted property owners to coordinate the replacement of the private side.

As part of its Earth Day activities, Cary partnered with a local solar installer by hosting a virtual lunch and learn to Cary residents that provided education and awareness on the benefits of residential solar, including available tax credits and utility incentives. Since 2017, interest in solar generation has been growing in the community with 2023 having 354 permits issued, the largest number on record. Residents and businesses that opt to install solar on their property see reductions in monthly electric utility bills, take advantage of available utility and tax incentives, and actively contribute to reducing carbon emissions. 

The entrance to Pirates Cove Greenway from Vickie Drive has required frequent maintenance due to excess stormwater runoff. The solution was to raise the greenway entrance, rebuild the curb and gutter with a built-in flume, and install a biofiltration conveyance (BFC) in the adjacent ditch. This BFC is the first of its kind in Cary and can be described as a cross between a bioretention device and a step-pool channel. In addition to solving this recurring maintenance issue, it benefits the Swift Creek Watershed by improving water quality, temporarily detaining runoff in the pools, and slowing stormwater before discharging to the creek below.

On May 10, Stormwater staff hosted stakeholders for a free informative workshop on how Cary regulates stormwater control measures in its jurisdiction. There were over 150 registered attendees, including developers, homeowners association board members, engineers, inspectors, and interested citizens. Staff presented topics such as design plan review, inspection and maintenance, construction turnover, and the enforcement process. Staff also provided a networking lunch and refreshments and received many kind words attesting to the workshop’s value and positive reception.

The North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission presented Cary’s stormwater division with the Local Program Award for excellence in Erosion and Sediment Control at its April 23 commission meeting. Stormwater Field Services Administrator Charles Brown presented at the workshop and provided information about Cary’s program and how to make it sustainable. Cary preserves and protects the environment by requiring construction projects to control sediment and erosion. Whether new development or a renovation, there is an obligation to control sediment runoff from leaving the property. 

Fire Capt. Allen Monds

Retired this quarter, Monds was celebrated by the Cary Franklin-Sloan VFW Post 7383. Monds was selected as his recruit academy’s top recruit in 1996, developed future firefighters throughout his career as a shift training officer and recruit academy instructor, commanded the department’s Honor Guard for much of his career, and more recently served on the ground floor of both Cary’s interdepartmental drone team and the Cary-Apex-Morrisville fire departments’ Pipe and Drums team. 

Police Det. Matt Cullen 

Police Det. Matt Cullen was celebrated by the Cary Franklin-Sloan VFW Post 7383 for his service as a task force officer on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.