A major investment in Davie County’s water infrastructure is complete, ushering in a new era of cooperation between the Town of Mocksville and Davie County to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective water service for residents and businesses.
At 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, the Town of Mocksville officially ceased operations at the Hugh A. Lagle Water Treatment Plant.
Mocksville will now purchase its water from Davie County’s new Water Treatment Plant in Cooleemee, a modern facility designed to meet the community’s water needs well into the future.
(L to R) Davie County Public Utilities Director Johnny Lambert, Mocksville Town Board Member Carl Lambert, County Commissioner Benita Finney, County Commissioner Brent Shoaf, Mocksville Town Board Member Johnny Frye, Mocksville Mayor Will Marklin, County Commissioner Terry Reneger, County Commissioner Mark Jones, and County Commissioner Richard Poindexter.
One Facility, A Shared Solution
The transition represents the culmination of years of planning and cooperation between Davie County and the Town of Mocksville. Rather than replacing and continuing to operate separate aging treatment facilities, local leaders pursued a shared approach that could reduce duplication, improve efficiency, and provide a long-term solution for the community.
The new Cooleemee Water Treatment Plant replaces both the former Cooleemee facility and Mocksville’s Hugh A. Lagle Water Treatment Plant.
“This project is a great example of what can happen when local governments work together and focus on what makes sense to serve the Town and Davie County,” said Brian Barnett, Davie County Manager. “We were able to develop a solution that strengthens and benefits our community for years to come.”
Although the Hugh A. Lagle plant will no longer treat water, the Town of Mocksville will continue to own and operate its water distribution system and provide service to its customers. The primary change is the source of the treated water entering that system, which will now come from Davie County’s new Cooleemee facility.
Years of Planning Lead to a Long-Term Investment
The foundation for the project was laid in November 2018, when Davie County and the Town of Mocksville commissioned Hazen and Sawyer to develop a long-range water strategy and evaluate potential water supply alternatives. Following that study, Davie County Commissioners and the Mocksville Town Board approved plans for a new Cooleemee Water Treatment Plant with the capacity to treat 3.5 million gallons of water per day.
Throughout construction, existing facilities remained operational to ensure uninterrupted water service.
The new facility incorporates modern treatment technology and operational efficiencies while providing additional capacity to serve the community into the future.
Together with Davie County’s Sparks Road Water Treatment Plant, the Cooleemee facility is part of a regional water system designed to serve communities throughout Davie County.
More Than $13 Million in Grants Secured
The project was supported through multiple funding sources, including the North Carolina Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program, State Reserve funding and an Economic Development Administration grant.
Local officials also pursued additional funding opportunities throughout the process, ultimately securing more than $13 million in grants to help reduce the project’s financial impact.
The shared approach also avoids the expense and duplication that would have come with replacing and continuing to operate two separate aging water treatment facilities.
More Than 50 Years of Service at the Hugh A. Lagle Plant
For Mocksville, the transition also marks the end of an important chapter in the town’s history.
“The Hugh A. Lagle Water Treatment Plant that processed water up from Hunting Creek has served Mocksville residents well for over 50 years. To be able to partner with Davie County to supply water from their new state-of-the-art water treatment plant in Cooleemee was a cost-effective long-term solution, as water will now be processed from the Yadkin River. We are appreciative of the ability to purchase bulk water from Davie County,” said Mocksville Town Manager Lee Rollins.
Investing in Davie County’s Future
The completion of the new water treatment facility represents more than an infrastructure project. It reflects a shared commitment by Mocksville and Davie County to find practical ways to deliver essential public services efficiently and responsibly.
By combining resources, leveraging modern technology, and eliminating unnecessary duplication, the partnership enables both governments to make strategic use of taxpayer and ratepayer dollars while strengthening one of the community’s most essential services.
With the new Cooleemee Water Treatment Plant online, Davie County and Mocksville now have a shared water solution designed to support residents, businesses and future growth for decades to come.