The 2005 merger
In July 2005 the Town of Wake Forest and the City of Raleigh merged their water and sewer systems. Under the regional utility plan, the town says, Raleigh assumed sole responsibility for operating, maintaining, improving and expanding the water and wastewater collection system serving Wake Forest. Raleigh owns and operates the system serving the town's urban service area.
The town kept authority over when and where new water and sewer services can be extended to support growth inside its planning and zoning jurisdiction, subject to the inter-local agreement. The merger was part of a broader effort to merge utilities across central and eastern Wake County, and Raleigh Water now serves Raleigh, Garner, Wake Forest, Rolesville, Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon.
Who maintains what
Raleigh Water's FAQ says it is responsible for breaks in water and sewer mains in the street, and the property owner is responsible for breaks on private property. It also places the pressure reducing valve, the most common cause of low pressure, on the customer side of the meter box, replaceable by a plumber.
That division explains most of the calls homeowners make. Water in the road: Raleigh Water. Water in the yard or house: a plumber. See plumbing emergency steps and low water pressure for the details.
Meters and penalties
Raleigh's utility bill page warns that meter tampering is a criminal offense. If tampering occurs, the city may remove the meter, and the customer is assessed $125 at restoration, made up of a $50 meter removal charge and a $75 meter reset charge, plus repair costs; a civil penalty of $500 may also apply.
Raleigh's water service FAQ adds that all water used from the public system must be metered except in fire emergencies, and that unmetered use from the city's system violates City Code and can bring a fine of up to $500 a day plus water usage. If you need a lot of water, for example to fill a pool, the FAQ describes metered options, including renting a hydrant meter.
Need a licensed plumber to look at it?
Free Quote RequestCross-connections and backflow
Every connection to Raleigh Water's system must have containment backflow protection, according to the city's cross-connection program, and there is no grandfather clause. For most homes that is the dual check device in the meter box; irrigation systems need a reduced pressure assembly that is tested every three years.
Testing is the customer's responsibility under Raleigh City Code. Our backflow testing page covers the schedule, certified testers and repairs.
Contact numbers the town lists
The Town of Wake Forest's utilities contact page lists Raleigh Water numbers for common problems: 919-996-3245 for billing, connecting or disconnecting service, water leaks, pressure problems and no water; 919-996-2737 for sewer backups and water quality issues; and 811 to mark utility lines before digging.
Raleigh Water's main page tells customers with a sewer back-up, overflow or water leak to call 919-996-3245, twenty-four hours a day, and press 2. For billing questions, see our high water bill guide, and for water quality, discolored water.