Davie County Water System

Understanding Your Municipal Water Sources

Our municipal water comes from various natural sources including rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land surfaces or through underground layers, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and sometimes radioactive materials. It can also pick up biological contaminants from animal or human activities.

Several types of pollutants may be present:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from wildlife or human activity
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, either naturally occurring or from urban runoff
• Agricultural chemicals including fertilizers and pesticides
• Organic compounds from industrial processes or petroleum production
• Radioactive substances that may be naturally occurring or from mining activities

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets regulatory limits on contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure safety. Similarly, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes limits for bottled water products.

Davie County's water originates from the Yadkin/Pee Dee River Basin. We operate two water treatment facilities: one on Leads Road processing water from the Yadkin River, and another in Cooleemee treating South Yadkin River water. Together, these plants serve approximately 29,500 residents with daily testing to ensure water safety and quality.

Health Information: Minor lead levels were detected in our 2015 testing. Elevated lead can pose serious health risks, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead typically enters water through service line materials and household plumbing components. To minimize potential exposure, consider running your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for consumption, especially if it has been sitting unused for several hours.

Immunocompromised individuals, including those undergoing cancer treatment, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, elderly residents, and young children may be particularly vulnerable to certain waterborne contaminants. These individuals should consult healthcare providers about appropriate precautions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How frequently will I receive my water/sewer bill?
   Customers are billed quarterly. Payments are due upon receipt, with a 10% late fee applied after the due date shown on your payment stub.
2. What payment options are available?
   You can pay through our online Customer Bill Pay Portal, mail payments to our PO Box, or use convenient drop boxes at our office locations. Please note that cash payments are not accepted.
3. Is fluoride added to the municipal water?
   No, we do not add supplemental fluoride to the water system.
4. How do you calculate my water and sewer charges?
   Billing is based on actual water consumption measured through your meter since the previous billing period. Sewer charges are calculated based on water usage, as sewer flow isn't directly metered. Water is measured in 100 cubic foot units (equivalent to 748 gallons).
5. Will outdoor watering affect my bill?
   Summer lawn and garden watering will increase your consumption and resulting charges. Both water and sewer fees apply to all metered water. Consider using rain barrels to collect rainwater for outdoor use (add a lid or mesh cover to prevent mosquito breeding).
6. What should I do if my bill seems unusually high?
   Unexpectedly high bills often indicate plumbing leaks. A single leaking toilet can waste 3-5 gallons per minute silently. Check toilets by adding food coloring to the tank and waiting 20 minutes - if color appears in the bowl, you have a flapper leak. Contact a plumber promptly to investigate unusual consumption increases.
7. Can I temporarily suspend service while away?
   Yes, arrangements can be made by calling customer service. A service fee applies, and quarterly minimum charges still accrue. We recommend using your home's internal shutoff valve when away.
8. What steps should I take when selling my property?
   Submit a "Final Bill Request" form to the municipal authority. New residents must complete an application for public water/sewer service.