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North Carolinians must soon make unprecedented decisions aUout water resources.l'o assist this process, the <br />Wate~ 2030 Initiative peovides a detailed analysis of wate~, sewer and stormwatec systems statewide This includes <br />informatio~ about existing infrastructuie and fiscal condition, plus projections of needed investments through the <br />year 2030. Among the iniriative's most impoRant findings: <br />^ North Carolina's public water, sewer and stormwater <br />utllities will require investments totaling $16.63 <br />billion to keep pace with necessaxy improvements <br />and population growth over the next 25 years. <br />^ 7'hese utilities will require $6.85 billion in investments <br />within the next five years. <br />^ By 201Q the number of people served Uy North <br />Carolina's public sewer systems will grow by 2.9 <br />percent each year-neazly double the rate of overall <br />population growth. <br />^ By 2030, North Carolina's public water systems are <br />projected to serve 9.8 million people, 70 percent more <br />than today. <br />^ The need for water system improvements will soon <br />outpace that of sewei systems as localities develop <br />new water supplies, bring systems into compliavice <br />and institute repair and ieplacement programs. <br />^ New federal regulations require some N.C. commu- <br />nities to address stormwater issues to protect waters <br />from pollutants. Current estimates of stormwater <br />needs-$1.47 billion by 203~ map be conservative. <br />^ Most watei and sewer systems in North Carolina <br />are small, and many are located in economically <br />distressed areas. Monthly bills in these areas are <br />often twice as high as in areas with ]uger systems. <br />^ Many systems atready exceed the state standard-1.5 <br />percent of inedian household income-for en~ater and <br />sewer charges. <br />^ Water loss is a significant proUlem. Each yeaz public <br />water systems "lose" more than 35 billion gallons of <br />water because of ]eaks, unmeteced connections and <br />other situations. <br />^ Water and sewer rate structuxes most widely used in <br />the state do not encourage customets to consecve. <br />N.C. Water and Sanitary Sewer Systems <br />~ Sanitary Sewer Systems <br />~'" <br />1 <br />