Economic Benefits and Impacts of Cape Fear Public Utility Authority’s Infrastructure Investments
Demonstrating the value of clean, reliable water services
CFPUA provides water and wastewater services to more than 200,000 customers in the City of Wilmington and unincorporated New Hanover County, North Carolina. As the purveyor of this important public service, CFPUA wanted to demonstrate how its investments in water infrastructure benefit the local economy and ratepayers.
Water utility spending creates community benefits
One Water Econ, in partnership with Raftelis Financial Consultants, helped CFPUA demonstrate how its investments in water and wastewater infrastructure drive economic activity across the Wilmington metro area. Our assessment quantified the value of water supply reliability, infrastructure spending, and CFPUA’s role in regional growth.
Key findings include:
- CFPUA’s annual spending supported over 1,000 jobs and generated $158 million in economic output each year
- Water-dependent industries account for 37% of output and 40% of employment in New Hanover County—supporting $11.1 billion in output and nearly 65,500 jobs
- A single day of water service disruption could result in $70–$93 million in lost output, or $650–$860 per household
- Every dollar spent by CFPUA generated $8.50 in regional economic growth
CFPUA is using these results to communicate the value of its services and guide future investment decisions.