Proposal to extend Greensboro water and sewer services to Pleasant Garden sparks concerns

A proposal to extend water and sewer services from Greensboro to the town of Pleasant Garden has city officials looking to reconsider one of its policies.

Guilford County and the state each provided $5.5 million in funding to cover costs for a utility extension project. This would bring 1 million gallons a day in water and sewer to six sites in Pleasant Garden.

According to a draft proposal, Greensboro would own and maintain the system. Mayor Nancy Vaughan said in a work session last week she was against this.

"We can barely service the water and sewer lines within the city and then we're going to extend more to Pleasant Garden and maintain them? I mean there's just a whole lot about this that I have deep reservations on," Vaughan said.

Current city policy requires annexation for areas outside of Greensboro looking to receive water and sewer services. Vaughan said the city needs to pause and rework its policy as they consider the proposal.

Water Resources Director Mike Borchers said he was concerned about the signal the city could be sending as it looks to potentially build wastewater treatment capacity in the region.

"If we were to decide not to do it, that sends a message to the other partners," Borchers said.

The allocated funds for the project have to be spent by 2026.