Chatham County North Water System

The Division of Water Resources (DWR) provides the data contained within this Local Water Supply Plan (LWSP) as a courtesy and service to our customers. DWR staff does not field verify data. Neither DWR, nor any other party involved in the preparation of this LWSP attests that the data is completely free of errors and omissions. Furthermore, data users are cautioned that LWSPs labeled PROVISIONAL have yet to be reviewed by DWR staff. Subsequent review may result in significant revision. Questions regarding the accuracy or limitations of usage of this data should be directed to the water system and/or DWR.

1. System Information

Contact Information

Complete

Water System Name: Chatham County North Water System   PWSID: 03-19-126
Mailing Address:Post Office Box 910
Pittsboro, NC 27312		Ownership:County
 
Contact Person:Blake MillsTitle:Public Utilities Director
Phone:919-542-8238Cell/Mobile:919-548-4847
Distribution System
Line Type Size Range (Inches) Estimated % of lines
Asbestos Cement 6 1.00 %
Ductile Iron 6-24 41.00 %
Galvanized Iron 2 1.00 %
Polyvinyl Chloride 2-12 57.00 %
What are the estimated total miles of distribution system lines?   249 Miles
How many feet of distribution lines were replaced during 2024?   0 Feet
How many feet of new water mains were added during 2024?   10,525 Feet
How many meters were replaced in 2024?   530
How old are the oldest meters in this system?   20 Year(s)
How many meters for outdoor water use, such as irrigation, are not billed for sewer services?   1,030
What is this system's finished water storage capacity?   3.6000 Million Gallons
Has water pressure been inadequate in any part of the system since last update? Line breaks that were repaired quickly should not be included.   No
Programs
Does this system have a program to work or flush hydrants?   Yes, As Needed
Does this system have a valve exercise program?   Yes, As Needed
Does this system have a cross-connection program?   Yes
Does this system have a program to replace meters?   Yes
Does this system have a plumbing retrofit program?   No
Does this system have an active water conservation public education program?   Yes
Does this system have a leak detection program?   No
Water Conservation
What type of rate structure is used?   Increasing Block
How much reclaimed water does this system use?   0.0000 MGD   For how many connections?   0
Does this system have an interconnection with another system capable of providing water in an emergency?   Yes

2. Water Use Information

Service Area
Sub-Basin(s)% of Service Population
Haw River (02-1)99 %
Deep River (02-2)1 %
County(s)% of Service Population
Chatham100 %
What was the year-round population served in 2024?   23,360
Has this system acquired another system since last report?   No

Population was calculated based upon 9,344 residential domestic water meters (not counting residential irrigation meters) at 2.5 persons per meter equals 23,360.

Water Use by Type
Type of Use Metered
Connections		 Metered
Average Use (MGD)		 Non-Metered
Connections		 Non-Metered
Estimated Use (MGD)
Residential 10,280 1.6029 0 0.0000
Commercial 328 0.1698 0 0.0000
Industrial 30 0.2442 0 0.0000
Institutional 0 0.0000 0 0.0000

How much water was used for system processes (backwash, line cleaning, flushing, etc.)?   0.5658 MGD

Water Sales
Purchaser PWSID Average
Daily Sold
(MGD)		 Days
Used		 Contract Required to
comply with water
use restrictions?		 Pipe Size(s)
(Inches)		 Use
Type
MGD Expiration Recurring
Chatham County Asbury Water System 40-19-010 0.0000 0 Yes Yes 16 Emergency
City of Durham 03-32-010 0.0000 0 0.0000 Yes Yes 16 Emergency
City of Sanford 03-53-010 0.0000 0 Yes Yes 8 Emergency
Orange Water and Sewer Authority 03-68-010 0.0000 0 No No 16 Emergency
Town of Pittsboro 03-19-015 0.0000 0 Yes Yes 8 Emergency

3. Water Supply Sources

Monthly Withdrawals & Purchases
Average Daily
Use (MGD)		 Max Day
Use (MGD)		 Average Daily
Use (MGD)		 Max Day
Use (MGD)		 Average Daily
Use (MGD)		 Max Day
Use (MGD)
Jan 2.4036 May 2.7913 Sep 2.8003
Feb 2.3175 Jun 3.8654 Oct 2.8903
Mar 2.1157 Jul 3.4295 Nov 2.4948
Apr 2.5855 Aug 3.1848 Dec 2.0590

Surface Water Sources
Stream Reservoir Average Daily Withdrawal Maximum Day
Withdrawal (MGD)		 Available Raw
Water Supply		 Usable On-Stream
Raw Water Supply
Storage (MG)
MGD Days Used MGD * Qualifier
Haw River-Jordan Lake Jordan Lake Reservoir 2.5734 365 3.1248 3.0000 C 896.0000

* Qualifier: C=Contract Amount, SY20=20-year Safe Yield, SY50=50-year Safe Yield, F=20% of 7Q10 or other instream flow requirement, CUA=Capacity Use Area Permit

Surface Water Sources (continued)
Stream Reservoir Drainage Area
(sq mi)		 Metered? Sub-Basin County Year
Offline		 Use
Type
Haw River-Jordan Lake Jordan Lake Reservoir 1,700 Yes Haw River (02-1) Chatham Regular
What is this system's off-stream raw water supply storage capacity?   896 Million gallons
Are surface water sources monitored?   Yes, Weekly
Are you required to maintain minimum flows downstream of its intake or dam?   No
Does this system anticipate transferring surface water between river basins?   No
Water Purchases From Other Systems
Seller PWSID Average
Daily Purchased
(MGD)		 Days
Used		 Contract Required to
comply with water
use restrictions?		 Pipe Size(s)
(Inches)		 Use
Type
MGD Expiration Recurring
Chatham County Asbury Water System 40-19-010 0.0000 0 0.0000 Yes 16 Emergency
City of Durham 03-32-010 0.1728 365 4.0000 2031 No Yes 16 Regular
City of Sanford 03-53-010 0.0000 0 0.5000 Yes Yes 8 Emergency
Orange Water and Sewer Authority 03-68-010 0.0000 0 0.0000 No No 16 Emergency
Town of Pittsboro 03-19-015 0.0000 0 0.5000 Yes Yes 6 Emergency
Water Treatment Plants
Plant Name Permitted Capacity
(MGD)		 Is Raw Water Metered? Is Finished Water Ouput Metered? Source
Jordan Lake WTP 3.0000 Yes Yes Jordan Lake
Did average daily water production exceed 80% of approved plant capacity for five consecutive days during 2024?  Yes
     If yes, was any water conservation implemented?  No
Did average daily water production exceed 90% of approved plant capacity for five consecutive days during 2024?  No
     If yes, was any water conservation implemented?  
Are peak day demands expected to exceed the water treatment plant capacity in the next 10 years?  Yes

Chatham County and the City of Durham have amended their contract for the City of Durham to supply up to 4 MGD of treated water to Chatham County until the new regional Western Wake Intake Partners (Durham, Chatham County, TriRiver Water, and OWASA) Water Treatment Plant is operational which is expected in 2031.

4. Wastewater Information

Monthly Discharges
Average Daily
Discharge (MGD)		 Average Daily
Discharge (MGD)		 Average Daily
Discharge (MGD)
Jan 0.1502 May 0.1634 Sep 0.1622
Feb 0.1034 Jun 0.1763 Oct 0.1497
Mar 0.0775 Jul 0.2347 Nov 0.1455
Apr 0.0863 Aug 0.1784 Dec 0.1045

How many sewer connections does this system have?   45
How many water service connections with septic systems does this system have?   3,204
Are there plans to build or expand wastewater treatment facilities in the next 10 years?   No
Wastewater Permits
Permit Number Type Permitted Capacity
(MGD)		 Design Capacity
(MGD)		 Average Annual
Daily Discharge
(MGD)		 Maximum Day Discharge
(MGD)		 Receiving Stream Receiving Basin
NC0035866 WWTP 0.0250 0.0250 0.0031 Haw River Haw River (02-1)
NCG590014 WTP 0.0000 0.0000 0.1416 0.2333 Jordan Lake - New Hope arm Haw River (02-1)

5. Planning

Projections
  2024 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070
Year-Round Population 23,360 26,360 31,360 36,360 41,360 46,360
Seasonal Population 0 0 0 0 0 0
 
Residential 1.6029 1.8088 2.1518 2.4950 2.8380 3.1811
Commercial 0.1698 0.1916 0.2280 0.2643 0.3006 0.3370
Industrial 0.2442 0.2756 0.3278 0.3801 0.4323 0.4846
Institutional 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
System Process 0.5658 0.6385 0.7596 0.8807 1.0017 1.1229
Unaccounted-for 0.1560 0.5019 0.5599 0.6185 0.6764 0.7347

Growth projections were based on the Western Wake Intake Partnership. Growth projections were based on an increase of 200 houses per year plus a similar percentage of growth for commercial and industrial.

Future Water Sales
Purchaser PWSID Contract Pipe Size(s) (Inches) Use Type
MGD Year Begin Year End
Asbury 40-19-010 1.7500 2030 16 Regular
Future Supply Sources
Source Name PWSID Source Type Additional Supply Year Online Year Offline Type
Western Intake Partners Water Treatment Plant 03-19-010 Surface 4.0000 2031 Regular
Western Intake Partners Water Treatment Plant 03-19-126 Surface 3.5000 2040 Regular

Chatham County has a 13 MGD Jordan Lake Allocation and can currently get 3 MGD from the existing Water Treatment Plant on Beaver Creek Road. Chatham County is working on a Regional Water Treatment Plant with the City of Durham, Pittsboro and OWASA with is expected to be constructed and operating in 20231. Chatham County is working on a Based on demand projections Chatham County will need to expand the Water Treatment Plant in the year 2040 by an additional 3.5 MGD.

Demand v/s Percent of Supply
  2024 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070
Surface Water Supply 3.0000 3.0000 3.0000 3.0000 3.0000 3.0000
Ground Water Supply 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Purchases 4.0000 4.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Future Supplies 0.0000 7.5000 7.5000 7.5000 7.5000
Total Available Supply (MGD) 7.0000 7.0000 10.5000 10.5000 10.5000 10.5000
Service Area Demand 2.7387 3.4164 4.0271 4.6386 5.2490 5.8603
Sales 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Future Sales 1.7500 1.7500 1.7500 1.7500 1.7500
Total Demand (MGD) 2.7387 5.1664 5.7771 6.3886 6.9990 7.6103
Demand as Percent of Supply 39% 74% 55% 61% 67% 72%

The purpose of the above chart is to show a general indication of how the long-term per capita water demand changes over time. The per capita water demand may actually be different than indicated due to seasonal populations and the accuracy of data submitted. Water systems that have calculated long-term per capita water demand based on a methodology that produces different results may submit their information in the notes field.

Your long-term water demand is 69 gallons per capita per day. What demand management practices do you plan to implement to reduce the per capita water demand (i.e. conduct regular water audits, implement a plumbing retrofit program, employ practices such as rainwater harvesting or reclaimed water)? If these practices are covered elsewhere in your plan, indicate where the practices are discussed here.    Water leakage studies on conducted on an as needed basis. Promote water conservation practices on water bills.

Are there other demand management practices you will implement to reduce your future supply needs?   Chatham County has year round water conservation ordinance in place for irrigation, which allows only twice per week (midnight to 7 a.m.) and limited to 1 inch per week. Effective July 1, 2025, Chatham County started charging Water System Development Fees for irrigation meters which the cost (current fee is $8,000), is intended to discourage irrigation systems and promote Bermuda grass rather than fescue and drought resistant plants.

What supplies other than the ones listed in future supplies are being considered to meet your future supply needs?   No other water supplies are needed, Chatham County hs 13 MGD allocation from Jordan Lake (currently using 3 MGD) and can produce treated water to meet future needs through a combination of our own WTP (290 Beaver Creek) and the Regional Western Intake Partners WTP.

How does the water system intend to implement the demand management and supply planning components above?   We have the WTP expansion and improvements funded in our CIP

Additional Information

Has this system participated in regional water supply or water use planning?  Yes, Chatham County is constructing a regional water treatment plant and raw water intake on Jordan Lake with the Western Intake Partners (City of Durham, Pittsboro and OWASA). The new WIP WTP is planned to be operational in 2031.

What major water supply reports or studies were used for planning?  Western Intake Partnership Water Intake and Transmission Infrastructure: Water Capacity Requirements by Hazen Sawyer, The Chatham County Beaver Creek Water Treatment Plant Expansion Study Expand existing plant from 3 MGD to 6 MGD by Hazen Sawyer. Triangle Water Partners Regional Water Supply Plan with HDR and Hazen and is sponsored by Central Pines. Chatham County Water Master Plan for North, Asbury and Southwest Water Systems - determines long-term water service areas, water demands and transmission and distribution watermain alignments and capacities by Freese Nichols.

Please describe any other needs or issues regarding your water supply sources, any water system deficiencies or needed improvements (storage, treatment, etc.) or your ability to meet present and future water needs. Include both quantity and quality considerations, as well as financial, technical, managerial, permitting, and compliance issues:   Chatham County is merging our water system with Sanford/TriRiver Water July 1, 2025, which will provided additional resources to met future needs. The merger of water utilities ensures a more robust, interconnected system, which creates a more resilient and efficient water system.

The Division of Water Resources (DWR) provides the data contained within this Local Water Supply Plan (LWSP) as a courtesy and service to our customers. DWR staff does not field verify data. Neither DWR, nor any other party involved in the preparation of this LWSP attests that the data is completely free of errors and omissions. Furthermore, data users are cautioned that LWSPs labeled PROVISIONAL have yet to be reviewed by DWR staff. Subsequent review may result in significant revision. Questions regarding the accuracy or limitations of usage of this data should be directed to the water system and/or DWR.