ONWASA Board of Directors - July 16, 2026

The ONWASA Board of Directors meeting held on July 16, 2026, in Jacksonville, NC, focused heavily on procurement and capital improvement projects related to water infrastructure. Key procurement discussions included approval of updates to the purchasing policy, notably adding a reverse auction process to reduce chemical procurement costs. The board approved sole source purchase authorization for Sensus AMI meters through Ferguson Enterprises to standardize advanced metering infrastructure, with plans to install approximately 8,600 additional meters in the Sneads Ferry area. Additionally, the board approved a $7.89 million contract amendment for early works related to electrical building construction and equipment for a plant expansion, as well as contracts totaling over $6 million for new raw water production wells and transmission pipelines. The meeting also addressed strategic discussions about seeking federal partnership and funding with the Marine Corps to expand wastewater treatment capacity, emphasizing the need for coordinated regional support before formally submitting requests. Overall, the meeting involved multiple motions passed to advance procurement and capital projects critical to water system improvements and infrastructure expansion.