Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection

The town’s primary responsibility for the sewer system is to protect the environment by maintaining unobstructed wastewater flow in the collection system’s main lines. Crews routinely do preventative maintenance and repairs, remove roots and clean sewer lines with pressure washers. 

A non-toxic, non-staining vapor resembling smoke is used in periodic leak testing of the sanitary sewer system.

The town periodically mows and removes trees from utility easements and rights of way. For more information, see the street maintenance page on this website.

Sewer Line Smoke Testing

Water and Sewer Easements: Maintenance Responsibilities

The town assesses sewer blockages to determine whether they are on the utility or the homeowner's side of a sewer line.

Town responsibilities ― The town will clear blockages that occur in the sewer main or sewer service line from the town-maintained cleanout at the edge of the road right of way to the sewer main.

Homeowner responsibilities ― Homeowners are responsible for blockages in the service line between the house and the town-maintained cleanout at the edge of the road right of way. If no cleanout pipe is located at the property's edge, the homeowner is responsible for blockages that occur anywhere in the sewer service line from the house to the main sewer line.

Before digging, call 811 to have all underground utility lines located and marked for free.

The division and its staff have won the following awards:

• Outstanding Water Distribution Operator of the Year
  • Presented by: N.C. American Water Works Association-Water Environment Association
  • Awarded to: Utility System Supervisor Joel Lashley, 2017
• Outstanding Wastewater Collection Operator of the Year
  • Presented by: N.C. American Water Works Association-Water Environment Association
  • Awarded to: Utility Maintenance Supervisor Al Roberston, 2016
• Small Wastewater Collection System of the Year
  • Presented by: N.C. American Water Works Association-Water Environment Association
  • Awarded to: Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Division, 2016