Graham, Mebane hold closed sessions in Buc-ee’s wastewater dispute

Graham and Mebane have held multiple closed sessions in recent months over a wastewater dispute tied to Buc-ee’s and an $84.6 million upgrade to the Graham-Mebane system. Graham initially sought $18.1 million from Mebane, described as 21% of the project cost; Mebane agreed to pay $9.3 million, and the amount was $9.1 million in July 2026 while the legal dispute continued.

North Carolina law allows public bodies to meet behind closed doors for attorney-client discussions and to keep privileged or confidential material from public view.

The Graham-Mebane Water Treatment Plant began operation in 1976, is co-owned by both cities, sits on Graham-Mebane Lake in northeast Alamance County and was upgraded and expanded in 2003. The plant has a treatment capacity of 12 million gallons per day and treated water storage capacity of 6 million gallons. The dispute is tied to Graham’s wastewater plant expansion, needed in part to handle increased demand from Mebane-related growth, including Buc-ee’s.

Buc-ee’s would be North Carolina’s first location, on a 32-acre site off Interstate 40 in Mebane near Interstate 85. Mebane planning and zoning officials voted 6-3 on Dec. 11, 2023, to recommend denial before the Mebane City Council approved the proposal on Jan. 8, 2024. Almost 2,000 people signed petitions for and against the project in early January 2024, and the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network, 7 Directions of Service and the Haw River Assembly raised concerns about its infrastructure and community impacts.

In July 2025, Mebane and Graham asked residents to limit water use after flooding and a storm-related power outage at the Graham-Mebane Water Treatment Plant, and Mebane had less than two days of drinking water left during that emergency.