Beaufort County, North Carolina — public water systems

How does Beaufort County compare with other North Carolina counties?

Beaufort County has the 76th-most active public water systems among the 137 counties listed for active North Carolina systems in EPA records; among the 102 with 3 or more systems, the median has 29. Its systems report 51,541 people served in total, the 43rd-largest county figure in the state and 0.5% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 3,965 people, about twice the North Carolina average of 1,971. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Beaufort County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Beaufort County's active systems draw on groundwater (10, 77%) and purchased groundwater (3, 23%). Overall, all rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and none on surface water, compared with 91% and 9.1% across North Carolina. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Beaufort Co Northside Regional Water, draws primarily on purchased groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in Beaufort County?

Beaufort County's active systems break down as 7 community systems (54%), 5 non-transient non-community systems (38%) and 1 transient non-community systems (7.7%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as local government (54%) and private (46%).