Marion

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: Marion   PWSID: 01-56-010
Mailing Address:P.O. Drawer 700
Marion, NC 28752		Ownership:Municipality
 
Contact Person:Christopher NanneyTitle:Water Treatment Plant Superintenden
Phone:828-652-2428Cell/Mobile:--
 
Secondary Contact:Brant Sikes Phone:828-652-4224
Mailing Address:Po Drawer 700
Marion, NC 28752		Cell/Mobile:--
Distribution System
Line Type Size Range (Inches) Estimated % of lines
Asbestos Cement 4-10 3.00 %
Cast Iron 4-16 35.00 %
Ductile Iron 6-24 31.00 %
Galvanized Iron 2 1.00 %
Polyvinyl Chloride 2-12 30.00 %
What are the estimated total miles of distribution system lines?   100 Miles
How many feet of distribution lines were replaced during 2025?   160 Feet
How many feet of new water mains were added during 2025?   566 Feet
How many meters were replaced in 2025?   85
How old are the oldest meters in this system?   25 Year(s)
How many meters for outdoor water use, such as irrigation, are not billed for sewer services?   0
What is this system's finished water storage capacity?   5.2000 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?   No
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 production totals at the Water Treatment Plant are compared with water collection totals in the distribution system on a monthly basis. Total water used for filter backwashes, basin cleanings, known unmetered water and water used by the Waste Water Treatment Plant for feeding Cl2 and So2 are also calculated and accounted for on a monthly basis. When discrepancies are noted, Public Works is notified and a work order is created to locate and repair all detectable leaks. The City staff continue to analyze data and make repairs and improvements in our system to maximize efficiency.

Water Conservation
What type of rate structure is used?   Flat/Fixed
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?   No

Currently there are no systems close enough that are financially within reason.

2. Water Use Information

Service Area
Sub-Basin(s)% of Service Population
Catawba River (03-1)100 %
County(s)% of Service Population
McDowell100 %
What was the year-round population served in 2025?   9,608
Has this system acquired another system since last report?   No

The 2025 service-area population of 9,608 was estimated by adding the 2024 population (9,363) to the estimated increase in population (245) between 2024 and 2025. The increase of 245 was calculated by multiplying the increase in residential metered connections (100) by 2.45, the number of residents per connection in 2024.

Water Use by Type
Type of Use Metered
Connections		 Metered
Average Use (MGD)		 Non-Metered
Connections		 Non-Metered
Estimated Use (MGD)
Residential 3,818 0.4093 0 0.0000
Commercial 625 0.6273 0 0.0000
Industrial 27 0.0350 0 0.0000
Institutional 0 0.0000 0 0.0000

How much water was used for system processes (backwash, line cleaning, flushing, etc.)?   0.2960 MGD

Regarding the high amount of unaccounted-for-water (23% of supply) -- a major addition was made to the Nebo distribution system that purchases water from us. The master meter was supposed to be moved before the new lines went live but it wasn't. Consequently, the county was not being billed for the water used by this expansion and that water was not accounted for. The master meter has since been moved and although the county's purchasing contract doesn't expire for another year or so, early re-negotiations are currently underway. This problem was compounded by a couple of major leaks over the winter. One of these leaks went undiscovered for months as it was inside an old, derelict lumber mill whose fire protection system had frozen and busted.

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
Nebo 10-56-032 0.0764 366 0.2000 2027 Yes Yes 12 Regular

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 1.6801 2.1850 May 1.8081 2.7534 Sep 1.9293 2.6891
Feb 1.6598 1.9170 Jun 1.9166 2.7740 Oct 1.9991 2.3781
Mar 1.6375 1.9350 Jul 2.0909 2.4749 Nov 2.0033 2.2969
Apr 1.7205 2.3600 Aug 1.9657 2.2208 Dec 2.0243 2.3404

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
Buck Creek Buck Creek Intake 0.9792 366 1.4676 3.0000 F 0.0000
Clear Creek Clear Creek Intake 0.2550 366 0.2550 0.4000 F 0.0000
Mackey Creek Mackey Creek Intake 0.6378 366 0.6378 0.9000 F 0.0000

* 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
Buck Creek Buck Creek Intake 26 Yes Catawba River (03-1) McDowell Regular
Clear Creek Clear Creek Intake 1 Yes Catawba River (03-1) McDowell Regular
Mackey Creek Mackey Creek Intake 3 Yes Catawba River (03-1) McDowell 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?   Yes
Does this system anticipate transferring surface water between river basins?   No

During times of extreme drought Mackey and Clear Creek Intakes are bypassed as necessary to maintain minimum flow for the protection of downstream ecology.

Water Treatment Plants
Plant Name Permitted Capacity
(MGD)		 Is Raw Water Metered? Is Finished Water Ouput Metered? Source
Marion Water Treatment Plant 4.0000 Yes Yes Mackey Creek, Clear Creek, Buck creek
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 1.1135 May 0.9959 Sep 0.9729
Feb 1.1576 Jun 1.0230 Oct 0.9186
Mar 0.9075 Jul 1.0263 Nov 0.8505
Apr 0.9360 Aug 1.3209 Dec 0.9113

How many sewer connections does this system have?   3,144
How many water service connections with septic systems does this system have?   1,246
Are there plans to build or expand wastewater treatment facilities in the next 10 years?   Yes

The Corpening Creek WWTP is searching to secure grant funding for WWTP process repairs and improvements as well as collection system repairs and improvements per the AIA study conducted by Kimley-Horn.

Wastewater Permits
Permit Number Type Permitted Capacity
(MGD)		 Design Capacity
(MGD)		 Average Annual
Daily Discharge
(MGD)		 Maximum Day Discharge
(MGD)		 Receiving Stream Receiving Basin
NC0031879 WWTP 3.0000 3.0000 1.0111 3.7000 Youngs Fork Catawba River (03-1)
NCG590032 WTP 0.0500 4.0000 0.0097 0.0490 Nicks Creek Catawba River (03-1)

5. Planning

Projections
  2025 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070
Year-Round Population 9,608 9,500 9,595 9,690 9,790 9,885
Seasonal Population 0 0 0 0 0 0
 
Residential 0.4093 0.4655 0.4702 0.4749 0.4796 0.4844
Commercial 0.6273 0.6319 0.6365 0.6411 0.6475 0.6503
Industrial 0.0350 0.0355 0.0360 0.0365 0.0370 0.0375
Institutional 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
System Process 0.2960 0.2980 0.3000 0.3020 0.3040 0.3060
Unaccounted-for 0.4329 0.4529 0.4567 0.4604 0.4647 0.4679

Unaccounted-for water figures are abnormally high potentially due to the expansion of the McDowell County, Nebo water distribution system that allowed for new connections prior to the master meter. The master meter has been relocated and the issue is resolved.

Future Water Sales
Purchaser PWSID Contract Pipe Size(s) (Inches) Use Type
MGD Year Begin Year End
Nebo 10-56-032 0.2000 2009 2027 12 Regular

The contract between the city and the county for the Nebo water system was originally established in 1995 and was last amended in 2009. Though the contract is set to expire in 2027, renegotiations are currently in process due to the expansion of the McDowell County Nebo water system.

Demand v/s Percent of Supply
  2025 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070
Surface Water Supply 4.3000 4.3000 4.3000 4.3000 4.3000 4.3000
Ground Water Supply 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Purchases 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Future Supplies 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Total Available Supply (MGD) 4.3000 4.3000 4.3000 4.3000 4.3000 4.3000
Service Area Demand 1.8005 1.8838 1.8994 1.9149 1.9328 1.9461
Sales 0.0766 0.2000 0.2000 0.2000 0.2000 0.2000
Future Sales 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Total Demand (MGD) 1.8771 2.0838 2.0994 2.1149 2.1328 2.1461
Demand as Percent of Supply 44% 48% 49% 49% 50% 50%

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 43 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?  No

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 city of Marion is actively seeking funding for an AIA to be conducted this year(2026). This study would asses the overall condition of the treatment plant's systems and operations with a focus on potential improvements of the raw water intakes as well as any notable structural deficiencies of the treatment plant and its reservoirs.

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.