Hickory

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: Hickory   PWSID: 01-18-010
Mailing Address:P.O. Box 398
Hickory, NC 28603		Ownership:Municipality
 
Contact Person:David CoxTitle:Assistant Public Utilities Director
Phone:828-323-7689Cell/Mobile:--
 
Secondary Contact:William Hamblin Phone:828-323-7427
Mailing Address:PO Box 398
Hickory, NC 28603		Cell/Mobile:--
Distribution System
Line Type Size Range (Inches) Estimated % of lines
Asbestos Cement 6-12 1.50 %
Cast Iron 2-8 3.00 %
Ductile Iron 6-30 24.50 %
Galvanized Iron 2 1.00 %
Polyvinyl Chloride 2-12 70.00 %
What are the estimated total miles of distribution system lines?   754 Miles
How many feet of distribution lines were replaced during 2025?   3,189 Feet
How many feet of new water mains were added during 2025?   31,010 Feet
How many meters were replaced in 2025?   335
How old are the oldest meters in this system?   36 Year(s)
How many meters for outdoor water use, such as irrigation, are not billed for sewer services?   1,201
What is this system's finished water storage capacity?   12.8000 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, Annually
Does this system have a valve exercise program?   Yes, Annually
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?   Yes
Water Conservation
What type of rate structure is used?   Flat/Fixed, Uniform
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

The City of Hickory is connected with multiple PWS's. These include Burke County, Icard Water, Caldwell County, Granite Falls, Newton, & Mooresville. No contracts exist for the operations of these interconnects.

2. Water Use Information

Service Area
Sub-Basin(s)% of Service Population
Catawba River (03-1)80 %
South Fork Catawba River (03-2)20 %
County(s)% of Service Population
Catawba96 %
Alexander3 %
Burke1 %
What was the year-round population served in 2025?   72,974
Has this system acquired another system since last report?   No
Water Use by Type
Type of Use Metered
Connections		 Metered
Average Use (MGD)		 Non-Metered
Connections		 Non-Metered
Estimated Use (MGD)
Residential 28,730 3.8055 0 0.0000
Commercial 3,361 6.0018 0 0.0000
Industrial 0 0.0000 0 0.0000
Institutional 0 0.0000 0 0.0000

How much water was used for system processes (backwash, line cleaning, flushing, etc.)?   0.3923 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
Alexander County 01-02-020 0.9940 365 2.0000 2029 Yes Yes 8 &12 Regular
Catawba 01-18-040 0.0824 365 0.2250 Yes Yes 12 Regular
Conover 01-18-020 1.8306 365 3.0000 Yes Yes 12,20 Regular
Icard Township WC 01-12-060 0.4621 365 1.0000 2033 Yes Yes 12, 8 Regular
Longview 01-18-025 0.7168 365 2.5000 2039 Yes Yes 12&8 Regular
Maiden 01-18-030 0.9800 365 3.0000 2027 Yes Yes 36 Regular
Mooresville 00-01-958 0.0000 0 0.5000 No Yes 16 Emergency
Newton 01-18-015 0.0000 0 0.0000 No Yes 8,12 Emergency
Southeast Catawba County 20-18-004 0.4599 365 1.0000 2040 Yes Yes 12,20 Regular

Icard Township Water purchases water from the City of Hickory in two locations (0.3900 MGD from the Airport and 0.0721 MGD from the Old Shelby Rd). Sales shown for the City of Hickory total these two locations.

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 14.6557 May 16.8252 Sep 18.3354
Feb 14.2028 Jun 18.5698 Oct 18.1476
Mar 14.8531 Jul 19.9270 Nov 16.1931
Apr 15.8818 Aug 18.4520 Dec 14.9167

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
Catawba River Lake Hickory 16.7467 365 0.0000 32.0000 C 16,129.0000

* 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
Catawba River Lake Hickory 1,118 Yes Catawba River (03-1) Catawba Regular
What is this system's off-stream raw water supply storage capacity?   0 Million gallons
Are surface water sources monitored?   Yes, Daily
Are you required to maintain minimum flows downstream of its intake or dam?   No
Does this system anticipate transferring surface water between river basins?   Yes

The Henry Fork WWTF discharges into the South Fork of the Catawba River Basin.

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
Granite Falls 01-14-030 0.0515 365 0.0000 Yes Yes 8 Regular

This water purchase is for one specific location. Meter readings showed 18813700 or 0.0515 MGD.

Water Treatment Plants
Plant Name Permitted Capacity
(MGD)		 Is Raw Water Metered? Is Finished Water Ouput Metered? Source
Hickory WTP 32.0000 Yes Yes Catawba River
Did average daily water production exceed 80% of approved plant capacity for five consecutive days during 2025?  No
     If yes, was any water conservation implemented?  
Did average daily water production exceed 90% of approved plant capacity for five consecutive days during 2025?  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?  No

4. Wastewater Information

Monthly Discharges
Average Daily
Discharge (MGD)		 Average Daily
Discharge (MGD)		 Average Daily
Discharge (MGD)
Jan 5.5714 May 6.1955 Sep 5.8303
Feb 7.0182 Jun 5.9570 Oct 5.7997
Mar 5.6924 Jul 6.2505 Nov 5.5286
Apr 6.0061 Aug 7.0859 Dec 5.6014

How many sewer connections does this system have?   19,206
How many water service connections with septic systems does this system have?   9,524
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
NC0020401 WWTP 6.0000 6.0000 2.6128 Catawba River Catawba River (03-1)
NC0040797 WWTP 9.0000 9.0000 3.2299 Henry Fork River South Fork Catawba River (03-2)
NCG590036 WTP 0.0000 0.0000 0.2190 Catawba River Catawba River (03-1)

NCG590036 is the discharge for a water treatment facility and is process water only.

Wastewater Interconnections
Water System PWSID Type Average Daily Amount Contract
Maximum (MGD)
MGD Days Used
Alexander County 01-02-020 Receiving 0.0889 365 0.5000
Burke Co 01-12-065 Receiving 0.4132 365 0.5000
Longview 01-18-025 Receiving 0.4767 365 1.5000

Burke County sewer passes through Longview. The Longview flow has been adjusted to accommodate this pass through.

5. Planning

Projections
  2025 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070
Year-Round Population 72,974 74,069 75,180 76,308 77,452 78,614
Seasonal Population 0 0 0 0 0 0
 
Residential 3.8055 3.8626 3.9206 3.9794 4.0391 4.0996
Commercial 6.0018 6.0918 6.1832 6.2759 6.3701 6.4656
Industrial 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Institutional 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
System Process 0.3923 0.3982 0.4041 0.4102 0.4164 0.4226
Unaccounted-for 1.0728 1.0280 1.0434 1.0591 1.0749 1.0911
Demand v/s Percent of Supply
  2025 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070
Surface Water Supply 32.0000 32.0000 32.0000 32.0000 32.0000 32.0000
Ground Water Supply 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Purchases 0.0515 0.0515 0.0515 0.0515 0.0515 0.0515
Future Supplies 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Total Available Supply (MGD) 32.0515 32.0515 32.0515 32.0515 32.0515 32.0515
Service Area Demand 11.2724 11.3806 11.5513 11.7246 11.9005 12.0789
Sales 5.5258 12.7250 12.7250 12.7250 12.7250 12.7250
Future Sales 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Total Demand (MGD) 16.7982 24.1056 24.2763 24.4496 24.6255 24.8039
Demand as Percent of Supply 52% 75% 76% 76% 77% 77%

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 52 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.    No Changes

Are there other demand management practices you will implement to reduce your future supply needs?   

What supplies other than the ones listed in future supplies are being considered to meet your future supply needs?   

How does the water system intend to implement the demand management and supply planning components above?   

Additional Information

Has this system participated in regional water supply or water use planning?  Yes, We participate in the CWWMG Integrated Water Resources Planning and water use study as well as the annual water audit.

What major water supply reports or studies were used for planning?  

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:   

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.