Weyerhaeuser's Treatment of
Pulp and Paper Wastes
at the Plymouth , North Carolina Complex
G.   STERLING   BAILEY
Director, Environmental Resources
Weyerhaeuser  Company
Plymouth, North Carolina
INTRODUCTION
The Weyerhaeuser Company operations at Plymouth, North Carolina, are located
about eight miles from the mouth of the Roanoke River which discharges into the
Albemarle Sound. This sound is, in general, a fresh water body in contrast to
Pamlico Sound with which it joins between the mainland and the Outer Banks.
Several smaller streams including the Chowan River also discharge into Albemarle
Sound. Flow from the Atlantic Ocean into the sounds is restricted because of relatively narrow connecting channels such as that at Oregon Inlet.
The headwaters of the Roanoke are in Virginia where Corps of Army Engineers
operate a hydroelectric plant at Kerr Reservoir. One justification for the dam was
flood control although mention was made of pollution control by virtue of low flow
augmentation. The operations employ low level turbine intake.
From the Kerr Reservoir Dam to below the town of Roanoke Rapids, the river
drops enough to make it practical to produce additional hydroelectric power. Chronologically, the first such installation was at Roanoke Rapids, built by Virginia Electric
and Power Company. The second unit was built near the town of Gaston, also by
Virginia Electric and Power Company. The result of the three dams has been a series
of lakes such that they practically connect at the tailraces. The Federal Power Commission permit granted for the two lower dams spells out minimum flows as well as
minimum total dissolved oxygen. These two requirements were required by the North
Carolina State Stream Sanitation Committee in order to maintain established river
water quality standards. The oxygen standards are met by using submerged weirs and
therefore, upper level turbine feeds.
The Roanoke receives treated wastes from an unbleached kraft mill at Roanoke
Rapids and from several textile plants. Due to the persistance of state authorities,
dating back to 1954, practically all untreated sanitary waste discharges have been
eliminated. The lower reaches of the stream are highly colored by tannins from
hardwood swamp drainage.
The river and its artificial lakes, including Albemarle Sound, support a wide
range of recreational activities including boating, water skiing, swimming, and fishing,
both sport and commercial. Sport catches include striped bass, large mouth bass,
white perch, bream, crappie, and warmouth. The commercial fishermen take a good
catch of herring and striped bass.
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