Morganton

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: Morganton   PWSID: 01-12-015
Mailing Address:PO Box 3448
Morganton, NC 28680		Ownership:Municipality
 
Contact Person:Randy SmithTitle:Director of Water Resources
Phone:828-438-5285Cell/Mobile:--
Distribution System
Line Type Size Range (Inches) Estimated % of lines
Asbestos Cement 4-8 15.00 %
Cast Iron 3-12 25.00 %
Ductile Iron 8-30 20.00 %
Galvanized Iron 1-2 15.00 %
Polyvinyl Chloride 2-30 25.00 %
What are the estimated total miles of distribution system lines?   335 Miles
How many feet of distribution lines were replaced during 2025?   2,547 Feet
How many feet of new water mains were added during 2025?   7,058 Feet
How many meters were replaced in 2025?   242
How old are the oldest meters in this system?   21 Year(s)
How many meters for outdoor water use, such as irrigation, are not billed for sewer services?   283
What is this system's finished water storage capacity?   9.4000 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?   Decreasing 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?   No

2. Water Use Information

Service Area
Sub-Basin(s)% of Service Population
Catawba River (03-1)100 %
County(s)% of Service Population
Burke99 %
Caldwell1 %
What was the year-round population served in 2025?   27,200
Has this system acquired another system since last report?   No

Please find the updated system shape files and associated components.

Water Use by Type
Type of Use Metered
Connections		 Metered
Average Use (MGD)		 Non-Metered
Connections		 Non-Metered
Estimated Use (MGD)
Residential 9,191 1.5866 0 0.0000
Commercial 1,349 1.1626 0 0.0000
Industrial 59 3.2032 0 0.0000
Institutional 157 0.3663 0 0.0000

How much water was used for system processes (backwash, line cleaning, flushing, etc.)?   0.1000 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
Aqua of North Carolina Inc. 01-12-148 0.0170 365 No Yes 8 Regular
Brentwood - Highway 64 01-12-103 0.3227 365 0.6670 2026 Yes Yes 12 Regular
Brentwood - Jamestown Road 01-12-104 0.3227 365 0.6670 2026 Yes Yes 12 Regular
Burke County 01-12-065 0.1398 365 0.3000 Yes Yes 8 Regular
Drexel 01-12-045 0.2410 365 0.8600 Yes Yes 12 Regular

Our contract with AQUA is NON Recurring with no expiration date or sales limit.

While there is a single contract to sell water to Brentwood WA, they operate two separate water systems with multiple interconnections with the City of Morganton Water System. For this report Brentwood's total contract volume is divided equally between the two systems. The total daily consumption is also divided evenly by two between the two Brentwood PWSID's.

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 7.6060 9.3000 May 7.4510 8.8000 Sep 8.6700 10.3000
Feb 7.3230 8.4000 Jun 8.0600 9.6000 Oct 8.4160 9.9000
Mar 7.4600 8.8000 Jul 8.5450 12.1000 Nov 7.6700 9.4000
Apr 7.3630 8.7000 Aug 8.1960 9.6000 Dec 7.7220 9.1000

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 7.8740 365 9.5000 18.0000 SY50 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
Catawba River 508 Yes Catawba River (03-1) Burke 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?   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
Caldwell County 01-14-045 0.0000 0 0.0000 2026 Yes Yes 6 Emergency
Water Treatment Plants
Plant Name Permitted Capacity
(MGD)		 Is Raw Water Metered? Is Finished Water Ouput Metered? Source
Catawba River WTP 18.0000 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 5.2300 May 5.2900 Sep 5.1300
Feb 6.3100 Jun 4.8600 Oct 5.3300
Mar 5.3500 Jul 5.3000 Nov 5.0900
Apr 5.5300 Aug 5.7100 Dec 5.5600

How many sewer connections does this system have?   7,250
How many water service connections with septic systems does this system have?   3,500
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
NC0026573 WWTP 10.5000 10.5000 5.3840 15.3500 Catawba River Catawba River (03-1)
NC0060194 WWTP 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 Catawba River Catawba River (03-1)
WQ0002127 WWTP 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 Land Application Catawba River (03-1)

5. Planning

Projections
  2025 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070
Year-Round Population 27,200 28,200 29,900 31,700 33,600 35,600
Seasonal Population 0 0 0 0 0 0
 
Residential 1.5866 1.6360 1.7040 1.7750 1.8500 1.9220
Commercial 1.1626 1.9000 2.0000 2.1000 2.2000 2.3000
Industrial 3.2032 3.4000 3.6000 3.7000 3.8000 4.0000
Institutional 0.3663 0.4600 0.5300 0.6100 0.7000 0.7100
System Process 0.1000 0.1600 0.1800 0.2000 0.2200 0.2300
Unaccounted-for 0.4121 0.4886 0.5122 0.5405 0.5697 0.5993
Demand v/s Percent of Supply
  2025 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070
Surface Water Supply 18.0000 18.0000 18.0000 18.0000 18.0000 18.0000
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) 18.0000 18.0000 18.0000 18.0000 18.0000 18.0000
Service Area Demand 6.8308 8.0446 8.5262 8.9255 9.3397 9.7613
Sales 1.0432 2.5110 2.5110 2.5110 2.5110 2.5110
Future Sales 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000
Total Demand (MGD) 7.8740 10.5556 11.0372 11.4365 11.8507 12.2723
Demand as Percent of Supply 44% 59% 61% 64% 66% 68%

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 58 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.    

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, The City of Morganton is a member of the Catawba-Wateree Water management Group

What major water supply reports or studies were used for planning?  The Catawba-Wateree 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:   

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.