Cleveland County, North Carolina — public water systems

How does Cleveland County compare with other North Carolina counties?

Cleveland County has the 79th-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 105,431 people served in total, the 26th-largest county figure in the state and 1.1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 10,543 people, about 5.3 times 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 Cleveland County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Cleveland County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (4, 40%), surface water (3, 30%) and groundwater (3, 30%). Overall, 30% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 70% on surface water, compared with 91% and 9.1% across North Carolina. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. The county's largest system, Cleveland County Water, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Cleveland County?

Cleveland County's active systems break down as 7 community systems (70%), 1 non-transient non-community systems (10%) and 2 transient non-community systems (20%). 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 (60%), private (30%) and state government (10%).