Planning for the Next Generation
Providing a reliable water supply is one of the most important responsibilities of local government. Every home, school, business, healthcare facility and public safety agency depends on it. Because water infrastructure takes years to plan, permit and build, communities must prepare well before additional capacity is needed.
Fuquay-Varina’s request reflects that long-term planning.
A Community Shaped by Geography
Fuquay-Varina occupies a unique position in North Carolina. The Town lies along the divide between the Cape Fear and Neuse River basins and serves customers in both.
Unlike many municipalities, Fuquay-Varina has never owned a long-term surface water source. Instead, it has relied on wholesale water purchased from neighboring utilities. That approach has allowed the town to grow while avoiding the cost of constructing and operating its own water treatment plant.
Those regional partnerships have served the Town well. They were established to meet the community’s needs at the time, not the projected demand decades into the future.
Map of Fuquay-Varina showing the town’s location relative to the Cape Fear and Neuse River basins
Looking Beyond Today’s Needs
North Carolina requires local governments to plan for future water demand, and Fuquay-Varina’s current planning horizon extends through 2055.
As part of that effort, the Town evaluated projected population growth, customer demand, existing supply agreements and future water availability across the region. Its analysis identified the need for an additional long-term water supply capable of serving the community for decades to come.
The purpose of this interbasin transfer request is to secure that future supply as the Town continues to grow.
Planning Horizon
2055
Current Planning Period
~2035
Earliest Transfer Under Requested Certificate
6.17 MGD
Requested Transfer (2055 projected maximum month)
Building on Regional Partnerships
Rather than developing an independent water system, Fuquay-Varina chose to build on an existing regional partnership.
The Town has partnered with TriRiver Water and the City of Sanford to secure long-term water supply capacity from the Sanford Water Treatment Plant in the Cape Fear River Basin. Fuquay-Varina owns an 18.7 percent share of the planned treatment plant expansion, allowing the Town to participate in a regional solution rather than constructing duplicate infrastructure.
Regional partnerships help communities share costs, improve efficiency and make better use of existing infrastructure.
Why an Interbasin Transfer Is Needed
Because Fuquay-Varina serves customers in both the Cape Fear and Neuse River basins, a portion of the water purchased from Sanford will ultimately be delivered to customers in the Neuse River Basin.
North Carolina law requires approval from the Environmental Management Commission when transfers between river basins exceed established thresholds. The Town’s request follows that statutory process.
The requested certificate establishes the maximum transfer projected during the planning period. It does not authorize an immediate transfer of 6.17 million gallons per day. Water use will increase gradually over time as the community grows.
Why This Alternative Was Selected
The Environmental Impact Statement evaluated 16 alternatives to determine how Fuquay-Varina could best meet its long-term water needs.
The preferred alternative builds on existing regional infrastructure, provides a reliable long-term water supply and was found to have no measurable effect on water quantity, water quality or ecological health in the Cape Fear River Basin.
Learn more about the alternatives considered.
Key Takeaways
- Fuquay-Varina has planned for its long-term water needs through 2055.
- The Town’s location across two river basins creates unique water supply challenges.
- Existing wholesale water agreements cannot meet projected long-term demand.
- The preferred alternative builds on an existing regional partnership.
- The requested interbasin transfer follows North Carolina’s established review process.