Richmond County, North Carolina — public water systems

How does Richmond County compare with other North Carolina counties?

Richmond County has the 81st-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 48,023 people served in total, the 50th-largest county figure in the state and 0.5% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 5,336 people, about 171% above 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 Richmond County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Richmond County's active systems draw on groundwater (5, 56%), surface water (3, 33%) and purchased surface water (1, 11%). Overall, 56% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 44% 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, Richmond County Water System, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Richmond County?

Richmond County's active systems break down as 4 community systems (44%) and 5 transient non-community systems (56%). 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 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 (44%), private (44%) and federal government (11%).