Utilities

Treatment plants

The town’s treatment plants are responsible for preparing drinking water and for cleaning and disinfecting used water. The plants perform regular testing for contaminants and prepare annual reports about their treatment processes and testing. See the linked pages for more information.

Water Treatment Plant — This plant takes water from the Eno River, cleans and disinfects it, and then pumps it to residents. Annually, the plant changes its disinfection method for one month as required by the state for cleansing of the distribution system. For more information, see the Water Treatment Plant page.

Wastewater Treatment Plant — This plant removes nutrients from wastewater, disinfects the water with chlorine, and removes the chlorine before discharging the water into the Eno River. 

Water distribution and wastewater collection

The Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Division repairs water line leaks, cleans and repair sewer lines, and maintains booster pump stations and sewage lift stations.

Staff members are responsible for the town’s programs on backflow prevention, annual flushing of the water system, and keeping wipes and fats, oil and grease out of the sewer system.

For more information, see the Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Division page and the Utilities Educational Outreach page. 

The Eno River is the water source for the Hillsborough community. Water from the Eno River is drawn from three sites located in the Upper Neuse River watershed. The Eno and these three sites are considered surface water, natural water that has not penetrated much below the ground.

Lake Ben Johnston

This lake on the Eno River is Hillsborough's intake location for water from the Eno. Seven Mile Creek enters the Eno River upstream of this area.

Lake Orange

This lake on the east fork of the Eno River is located within Orange County and is a secondary source for water from the Eno.

West Fork Eno Reservoir

This reservoir on the west fork of the Eno River is owned by the Town of Hillsborough and is located outside town limits in nearby Cedar Grove. It is a secondary source for water from the Eno. Construction of the reservoir began in 1998, with the first phase opening in 2000. Work on the reservoir’s second phase began in 2018 and was completed in 2021.

Recreation ― including boating, hunting and fishing ― is not permitted at the West Fork Eno Reservoir or the surrounding town-owned property. Federal and state permits require a conservation easement for a 100-foot buffer around the reservoir. This requires keeping the land in a natural state with no development, recreation or access other than to maintain the reservoir. The easement is intended to protect the town’s drinking water source and to reduce the effects of the reservoir’s construction and expansion.

Risks associated with recreation at the reservoir include the introduction of invasive animals and plants, including hydrilla, which can cause damage to the environment and utility equipment. The town also does not have the resources to oversee public activities at the reservoir and cannot assume the risk or liability of allowing recreational activities.

The Utilities Department maintains educational outreach programs and has several programs for maintenance and protection of the town's water and sewer system. Customers must participate in some maintenance and protection of infrastructure, as required in the Hillsborough Code of Ordinances. See chapters 14 and 15.

See the Utilities Educational Outreach page for information on the following.

• Annual chlorine disinfection
• Annual and periodic water system flushing
• Backflow prevention
• Easement mowing and responsibilities
• Fats, oil and grease diversion
• Irrigation systems
• No wipes in the pipes
• Tampering and theft of infrastructure
• Theft of water from hydrants
• Water conservation
• Water and sewer system assessment and maintenance

Information also is provided on the related division pages: 

• Water Treatment Plant
• Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Division

Individuals removing water from hydrants without using the orange box could be committing water theft. Please contact authorities immediately.

Emergencies

Report water line breaks, sewer spills and other water-related emergencies immediately by calling 919-732-3621.

Water advisories and notices

At times, the town may issue an advisory or notice about its water. See frequently asked questions on water advisories and notices. Customers are encouraged to:

• Subscribe to Town of Hillsborough news.
• Sign up for emergency notifications from OC Alerts, the public alert system in Orange County. 

For those seeking water and sewer availability and the development process for utilities extensions or connections, see the information below and chapters 14 and 15 of the Hillsborough Code of Ordinances. For planning requirements, see the Planning and Economic Development Division page.

Online forms:

• Water and Sewer Availability Inquiry
• Approval: New Water or Sewer Connection

For those designing water and sewer extensions or performing water and sewer connections (taps), see the information below and chapters 14 and 15 of the Hillsborough Code of Ordinances. 

Online form: Approval: New Water or Sewer Connection