Lincoln County

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: Lincoln County   PWSID: 01-55-035
Mailing Address:115 West Main Street
Lincolnton, NC 28092		Ownership:County
 
Contact Person:Jonathan DrazenovichTitle:County Engineer
Phone:704-736-8495Cell/Mobile:--
 
Secondary Contact:John D Hawkins Phone:704-736-8495
Mailing Address:115 W. Main Street
Lincolnton, NC 28092		Cell/Mobile:--
Distribution System
Line Type Size Range (Inches) Estimated % of lines
Asbestos Cement 6-8 1.12 %
Ductile Iron 3-24 9.07 %
Galvanized Iron 1.5-2 0.06 %
Other 2-16 0.05 %
Polyvinyl Chloride 2-12 89.70 %
What are the estimated total miles of distribution system lines?   401 Miles
How many feet of distribution lines were replaced during 2025?   2,717 Feet
How many feet of new water mains were added during 2025?   6,125 Feet
How many meters were replaced in 2025?   48
How old are the oldest meters in this system?   14 Year(s)
How many meters for outdoor water use, such as irrigation, are not billed for sewer services?   2,824
What is this system's finished water storage capacity?   5.5000 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

Decrease in miles of waterline is due to change of ownership with the City and corrections of duplicate lines in the GIS system.

Programs
Does this system have a program to work or flush hydrants?   Yes, Semi-Annually
Does this system have a valve exercise program?   Yes, 2 Years or More
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?   No
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
Catawba River (03-1)75 %
South Fork Catawba River (03-2)25 %
County(s)% of Service Population
Lincoln97 %
Catawba2 %
Gaston1 %
What was the year-round population served in 2025?   38,530
Has this system acquired another system since last report?   No

Population Served is based on number of domestic* residential connections multiplied by 2.55 persons per household. Irrigation connections were separated from the calculation for the 2025 year resulting in a lower population served than previous years.

Water Use by Type
Type of Use Metered
Connections		 Metered
Average Use (MGD)		 Non-Metered
Connections		 Non-Metered
Estimated Use (MGD)
Residential 17,728 2.4620 0 0.0000
Commercial 986 0.4480 45 0.0022
Industrial 97 0.2750 32 0.0144
Institutional 86 0.1760 5 0.0088

How much water was used for system processes (backwash, line cleaning, flushing, etc.)?   0.4219 MGD

Non Meter Accounts (fire services) were not captured in previous years bulk data pulls.
A high number of zero read accounts were identified and are under assessment and repair.
A fire protection system has been identified with a significant leak/leaks we are working with the industries to find and repair leaks in the system. County is also proposing to add metering at this location to more accurately capture consumption.
The county is working with local fire departments and has developed a mobile application to capture fire flow losses during testing /flushing.

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
High Shoals 01-36-075 0.0500 365 0.1000 2025 Yes Yes 12 Regular
Lincolnton 01-55-010 0.0000 0 1.0000 2030 Yes Yes 12 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 3.9654 5.0105 May 4.5325 5.7949 Sep 5.2360 6.2702
Feb 3.8175 3.8363 Jun 4.8215 6.1266 Oct 5.0366 5.9478
Mar 3.9463 4.2817 Jul 5.6675 6.4664 Nov 4.1073 4.8667
Apr 4.3121 4.9166 Aug 4.9786 5.9657 Dec 3.7688 4.5063

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 Norman 3.6278 365 4.5237 7.1000 C 12.0000

* 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 Norman 1,790 Yes Catawba River (03-1) Lincoln 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
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
Lincolnton 01-55-010 0.8880 365 2.8000 2030 Yes Yes 12, 8 Regular
Water Treatment Plants
Plant Name Permitted Capacity
(MGD)		 Is Raw Water Metered? Is Finished Water Ouput Metered? Source
Lake Norman WTP 8.0000 Yes Yes Lake Norman
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 1.1820 May 1.3050 Sep 1.2780
Feb 1.2680 Jun 1.2510 Oct 1.2770
Mar 1.1300 Jul 1.2310 Nov 1.2200
Apr 1.1100 Aug 1.2730 Dec 1.2600

How many sewer connections does this system have?   9,544
How many water service connections with septic systems does this system have?   6,529
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
NC0088722 WWTP 6.6000 6.6000 1.2320 1.8950 Killian Creek Catawba River (03-1)

5. Planning

Projections
  2025 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070
Year-Round Population 38,530 40,894 45,258 50,311 52,663 61,416
Seasonal Population 0 0 0 0 0 0
 
Residential 2.4620 2.6172 2.8965 3.2199 3.3704 3.9306
Commercial 0.4502 0.5182 0.5780 0.6375 0.7115 0.7783
Industrial 0.2894 0.3590 0.4004 0.4417 0.4929 0.5392
Institutional 0.1848 0.2037 0.2272 0.2506 0.2797 0.3059
System Process 0.4219 0.5381 0.6001 0.6620 0.7387 0.8081
Unaccounted-for 0.6575 0.7292 0.7874 0.8971 1.0011 1.0951

Updated data on 4/1/2026 an error was identified in the spreadsheet that compounded the percentage of population growth. Causing numbers to be much higher than they should.

Demand v/s Percent of Supply
  2025 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070
Surface Water Supply 7.1000 7.1000 7.1000 7.1000 7.1000 7.1000
Ground Water Supply 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Purchases 2.8000 2.8000 2.8000 2.8000 2.8000 2.8000
Future Supplies 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Total Available Supply (MGD) 9.9000 9.9000 9.9000 9.9000 9.9000 9.9000
Service Area Demand 4.4658 4.9654 5.4896 6.1088 6.5943 7.4572
Sales 0.0500 0.1000 0.1000 0.1000 0.1000 0.1000
Future Sales 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Total Demand (MGD) 4.5158 5.0654 5.5896 6.2088 6.6943 7.5572
Demand as Percent of Supply 46% 51% 56% 63% 68% 76%

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 64 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.    Zero read accounts have been identified and are being investigated. Discussions on voluntary irrigation reduction through alternate address requirements for irrigation systems are underway. There is also plans to distribute literature on water conservation through reduction of irrigation. We currently have higher water demand due to irrigation during summer months.

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, Yes, Lincoln County participates in the Catawba Wateree Management Group.

What major water supply reports or studies were used for planning?  The Intergrated Water Resource Plan Additional information can be found at the following address.

https://catawbawatereewmg.org/our-work/water-supply-master-plan

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:   A project is active (under Construction) to replace aging disinfection equipment, and one is in 90% design to improve distribution in the eastern and central zones.

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.