The money, $40.78 million, came from the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, signed by President Joe Biden on Jan. 4.
Canton’s municipal water system has been plagued with deteriorating hardware, resulting in periodic breaks that in turn result in boil-water orders on a regular basis.
The town has also been facing a wastewater treatment problem since Pactiv Evergreen announced on March 6, 2023, that its century-old paper mill would close by that summer. Pactiv, and previous owners of the mill, had treated the town’s municipal waste at nearly no cost for several decades, but told the town it would halt treatment as soon as contractually feasible.
That sent the town on the hunt for the money and the real estate to construct its own wastewater treatment plant.
“This money will be rolled out over four years. Some of it goes to wastewater infrastructure. It also goes from piping and water tanks and the filter plant,” Smathers said. “This is revolutionizing and modernizing the town of Canton water system with one swoop. This is money that we would never have access to in years and years and years.”
Edwards made an appearance in Sorrells Street Park on March 13 to announce the funding.
“Canton residents will no longer have to rely on a now-defunct paper mill to ensure safe water treatment sanitation,” Edwards said. “This investment opens the doors to an eventual regional connection in wastewater processing between Canton and surrounding communities such as Clyde.”
Now that the money appears to be flowing, Canton officials need to settle on a site.
“Over the course of last several years, we knew negotiating with Pactiv was not an option and we have been looking far and wide for a site,” Smathers told The Smoky Mountain News March 17. “I feel confident we are finalizing that issue and hopefully making some public announcements soon. We’ve looked at many sites, options and costs and I think we’ll have forthcoming news.”
Smathers said that only some of the WRDA money would be used for the new wastewater treatment plant and the rest would come from a 2023 state appropriation shepherded by Haywood Rep. Mark Pless and Sen. Kevin Corbin.
“We’ll be drawing on the funds from Raleigh, as well as some the funds from Washington,” Smathers said.
The projects are expected not only to elevate the quality of service for residents but also to ensure a reliable supply of water to the mill site, which is currently undergoing demolition and redevelopment by new owner Eric Spirtas. Detailed plans for development haven’t been issued, but the site is expected to feature a number of different uses.
“Everyone is excited to talk about what is next in economic development at the mill site but before we do that, it is paramount we get out house in order — especially our infrastructure,” said Smathers. “It’s always good to talk about dessert, but we have to get to the meat and potatoes first.”