TriRiver Water customers seeking in-person assistance in Sanford should be aware of a street closure happening for six months in 2026.

E. Weatherspoon Street will be closed between Hawkins Avenue and Third Street starting Monday, February 23. That closure means people traveling to our Sanford customer service location inside the Sanford Municipal Center may need to plan an alternate route.

The planned detour will divert traffic coming from the east down to Charlotte Avenue and then north up Third Street.

The road closure and detour are expected to remain in place until nearly September. 

Contractors are expanding the culvert under Weatherspoon Street in an effort to reduce flooding. The expanded culvert will allow this portion of Little Buffalo Creek to support excess storm water during heavy rain events. 

The project is funded by a $2.6 million Flood Mitigation Assistance grant from the state government.

In addition to helping with storm water runoff, the expanded culvert is designed to be used as a pedestrian walk way. A pedestrian path will be added from the culvert to First Street—ultimately connecting Sanford Municipal Center with the Sanford Central Green.

Para español, haga clic aquí.

A water pressure boost is coming to homes in the Homewood Acres neighborhood of Siler City, and people living there are eligible to receive a free pressure reducing valve (PRV).

You can pick up your PRV at Siler City Town Hall (311 N 2nd Ave, Siler City, NC, 27344). TriRiver Water representatives in the water billing department are authorized to distribute the PRVs.

Siler City Town Hall is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you are unable to get to Siler City Town Hall during normal business hours, please call TriRiver Water Engineering at 919-777-1122.

After you get your PRV, it will need to be installed. If you’re experienced with plumbing repairs, you may opt to install the PRV yourself. Please note that you may need to contact Chatham County to confirm proper permitting procedures. Otherwise, you can always contact a certified plumber to complete the work.

TriRiver Water initially intended to ramp up the pressure in Homewood Acres in October. However, permitting from state regulators has taken longer than expected. As soon as state regulators give final approval for the plan, the pressure increase process will begin. We expect this to happen in the coming weeks or months. That means time is running out for Homewood Acres residents to get and install their PRV. If you have not gotten or installed your PRV yet, please do so immediately.

We want everybody to have a chance to install a PRV before the water pressure is increased. If you do not wish to receive a free PRV, please visit www.TriRiverWater.com/PRVoptout to let us know. 

What’s a PRV?

PRVs are devices that can be installed on a home’s plumbing system to help regulate the water pressure coming into the home. 

Residential plumping code calls for homes to have a maximum water pressure of 80 psi. Higher pressure could cause problems with pipes or appliances that use water.

Why do I need a PRV?

TriRiver Water is going to increase the water pressure for people living in the Homewood Acres neighborhood.

That area has dealt with chronically low water pressure for years. TriRiver Water developed a plan that will increase water pressure to all homes in the area. 

Some people may like their water pressure as it is now, or they may be concerned that older pipes or appliances in their home won’t be able to handle the increased pressure. In either case, a PRV can be installed on their home to regulate the pressure.

Un aumento de la presión del agua está llegando a su hogar y usted es elegible para recibir una válvula reductora de presión (VPR) gratis.

Puede recoger su PRV en el Ayuntamiento de Siler City (311 N 2nd Ave, Siler City, NC, 27344). Los representantes de TriRiver Water en el departamento de facturación de agua están autorizados a distribuir las VRP.

El Ayuntamiento de Siler City está abierto de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m. De lunes a viernes. Si no puede llegar al Ayuntamiento de Siler City durante el horario comercial normal, llame a TriRiver Water Engineering al 919-777-1122.

Una vez que obtenga su VRP, deberá instalarla. Si tiene experiencia en reparaciones de plomería, puede optar por instalar la VRP usted mismo. Tenga en cuenta que es posible que deba comunicarse con el condado de Chatham para confirmar los procedimientos de permisos adecuados. De lo contrario, siempre puede ponerse en contacto con un plomero certificado para completar el trabajo.

TriRiver Water tenía previsto aumentar la presión del agua en Homewood Acres en octubre. Sin embargo, la obtención de los permisos de los organismos reguladores estatales ha tardado más de lo previsto. En cuanto las autoridades estatales aprueben definitivamente el plan, se iniciará el proceso de aumento de presión. Prevemos que esto ocurra en las próximas semanas o meses. Esto significa que los residentes de Homewood Acres tienen poco tiempo para adquirir e instalar su válvula reductora de presión (PRV). Si aún no ha adquirido ni instalado su PRV, le rogamos que lo haga de inmediato.

Queremos que todos tengan la oportunidad de instalar una VRP antes de que aumente la presión del agua. Si no desea recibir una VRP gratuita, visite www.TriRiverWater.com/PRVoptout ; para informarnos. 

¿Qué es un VRP?

Las VRP son dispositivos que se pueden instalar en el sistema de plomería de una casa para ayudar a regular la presión del agua que ingresa a la casa. 

El código de plomería residencial exige que las casas tengan una presión máxima de agua de 80 psi. Una presión más alta podría causar problemas con las tuberías o electrodomésticos que usan agua. 

¿Por qué necesito un VRP?

TriRiver Water va a aumentar la presión del agua para las personas que viven en el vecindario de Homewood Acres. 

Esa área ha batallado con una presión de agua crónicamente baja durante años. TriRiver Water desarrolló un plan que aumentará la presión del agua en todos los hogares de la zona. Más información: www.TriRiverWater.com/PRV

A algunas personas les puede gustar la presión del agua tal como está ahora, o pueden estar preocupadas de que las tuberías o electrodomésticos más viejos de su hogar no puedan manejar el aumento de presión. En cualquier caso, se puede instalar un VRP en su casa para regular la presión.

Regularly scheduled changes known as a system burnout will happen for some TriRiver Water customers in Chatham County in February. The process could result in temporary changes to your water’s taste, smell and clarity.

For 11 months out of the year, TriRiver Water uses a combination of chlorine and ammonia (known as chloramines) as the primary disinfectant for the water supply. The North Carolina Division of Water Resources recommends public water systems that use chloramines switch to just chlorine for 1 month each year to maintain the highest water quality. 

TriRiver Water will stop adding ammonia to the water for customers in the Chatham County North District on Monday, February 2, 2026 and resume adding ammonia to the disinfection process on Monday, March 2, 2026. (The rest of the TriRiver Water system will do its burnout in March.)

TriRiver Water will also use this time to flush the water mains throughout the system to remove sediment in the lines and refresh the entire distribution system. So you may notice our crews releasing water from fire hydrants in your neighborhood. 

While this process is underway, you may notice your water smells or tastes different. It could also be discolored. Rest assured, your water is still safe. There are no associated health risks with this standard process.

If you notice discoloration at your tap, allowing the water to run for 5-10 minutes should clear it up. 

Some aquatic pets can have specific habitat needs affected by this process. If you are unsure, contact your local pet store to determine if this process could affect your pet.

Customers with further concerns or questions should contact the Jordan Lake Water Filtration Facility at 919-777-1632.

Due to dropping water levels, Siler City citizens are being asked to reduce their daily water usage.

The North Carolina State Climate Office lists much of central North Carolina as being in a moderate drought. Those conditions have caused the reservoirs at the Siler City water filtration facility to dip below 70 percent capacity. 

The facility’s reservoirs can hold more than 800 million gallons of raw water, and the plant typically produces around 3 million gallons of finished water per day. When the reservoirs dip below 70 percent capacity, it triggers a stage 1 water shortage warning. That is the first and least restrictive action level. It calls for water users to reduce their normal water consumption by 10 percent – potentially by eliminating outdoor water use, preventing water waste, and washing only full loads of clothes and dishes.

Water reduction activities with stage 1 are all voluntary and there are no penalties for noncompliance. 

A stage 1 water shortage response happens once or twice every year or two in Siler City, according to plant administrator Adam Pickett. 

“It’s something to take seriously but not panic about,” Pickett said. “A heavy rain that dumps a couple inches in the right area could sufficiently fill up our reservoir overnight.”

Regularly scheduled changes known as a system burnout will happen in March for most TriRiver Water customers. The process could result in temporary changes to your water’s taste, smell and clarity.

For 11 months out of the year, TriRiver Water uses a combination of chlorine and ammonia (known as chloramines) as the primary disinfectant for the water supply. The North Carolina Division of Water Resources recommends public water systems that use chloramines switch to just chlorine for 1 month each year to maintain the highest water quality. 

TriRiver Water will stop adding ammonia to the water (for all areas except Chatham County North District) on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Ammonia will return to the disinfection process on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.  

TriRiver Water will use this month without ammonia to flush the water mains throughout the system. This is regular maintenance that helps remove sediment in the lines and refresh the entire distribution system. 

During this time, you may notice your water smells or tastes different. It could also be discolored. Rest assured, your water is still safe. There are no associated health risks with this standard process.

If you notice discoloration at your tap, allowing the water to run for 5-10 minutes should clear it up. 

Some aquatic pets can have specific habitat needs affected by this process. If you are unsure, contact your local pet store to determine if this process could affect your pet.

Customers with further concerns or questions should contact the Water Filtration Facility for their area (Sanford 919-777-1803 | Pittsboro 919-542-3530 | Siler City 919-777-1634 | Chatham County 919-777-1632). If you're not sure of your location, you can always call our customer service line at 919-775-8215.

TriRiver Water intends to replace more than a mile of smaller, outdated water lines in the Homewood Acres neighborhood.

Most of the pipes carrying water through the neighborhood are 6 inches wide, but some of the oldest pipes in the neighborhood are just 1 or 2 inches wide. Those small pipes restrict flow throughout the system and are more susceptible to breaks and other problems. 

That's why TriRiver Water is working to replace those pipes and upgrade them to new 6-inch versions.

The lines that will be replaced are on Wind Sound Way, Perry Avenue, N Glenn Avenue, Cliftwood Drive, N Garden Avenue, N Ivey Avenue, and Sedgefield Drive. In the map below, the sections targeted for replacement are circled in red.

VIEW THE MAP

TriRiver Water is working to get state approval for this project. After that, engineers will begin work on the design details needed to complete the replacement. 

Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2027. The physical work will likely take a year to complete. During that time, construction in the neighborhood could result in temporary road/lane closures as well as some temporary water service outages.

TriRiver Water customers in Sanford and Siler City either already have or will soon have smart water meters.

Smart water meters, also called AMI meters (Advanced Metering Infrastructure), collect and transmit utility usage data. This extra data allows for more accurate billing, faster leak detection, and reduced operational costs.

The smart meters that TriRiver Water uses transmit hourly water usage data using secured cellular technology. 

The data collected by the meters is available for customers to see themselves. If you have an AMI meter, you can find the data in your online account portal. A majority of customers in Sanford now have AMI meters. All Siler City customers have AMI meters but the process to integrate Siler City data into the TriRiver Water system remains ongoing.

Go to www.TriRiverWater.com/Pay and create or log into your account. 

Once logged in, navigate to the Account Details page. 

Then click on the Consumption tab on the left panel. In the Consumption section, you’ll see an interactive graph showing your water usage. This graph can be adjusted to change the date and timeframe displayed.

A button on the bottom right of the graph will allow you to “Download usage history.”

In the top right, you can select “Manage alerts” to explore ways the smart meter can help you.

The manage alerts section allows customers to set up parameters and receive alerts via email, text, or voicemail.

The types of alerts you can set up include: leak alerts, billing threshold alerts, consumption threshold alerts, and vacation threshold alerts.

• Leak Alerts: This alert will contact you if your consumption appears abnormal and indicative of a possible leak. If you receive this alert, you can try and track down the leak yourself or contact TriRiver Water for assistance.
• Billing Threshold Alerts: With this alert, you can set a dollar amount limit. If your billing cycle’s estimated amount ever exceeds that amount, you will receive an alert about it.
• Consumption Threshold Alert: This alert allows you to set usage limits. You can set up daily or monthly usage limits; if you ever exceed them, you’ll receive an alert.
• Vacation Threshold Alerts: With this alert, you select start and end dates as well as a water usage maximum. If your water usage goes above your maximum during the selected dates, you’ll receive an alert. You can set the maximum to 0.01 CF, if you want to receive an alert about any water usage during your selected dates.

If you would like more assistance utilizing your smart meter, feel free to contact our customer service team by calling 919-775-8215 or by visiting one of our customer service centers.

Some TriRiver Water customers in Siler City received letters in mid-November with confusing address information.

The letters were federal requirements associated with the ongoing efforts to identify lead service lines throughout the country. TriRiver Water took over servicing Siler City in July and with it the responsibility of bringing the area into compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements. 

TriRiver Water took preliminary service line data and compiled it into a database. Then, the data was sorted and filtered to remove customers whose service lines were known to not be lead or galvanized. The data was then further refined to separate customers into three categories: service line unknown, service line galvanized, and service line lead.

Customers in each category have multiple data points associated with their account. Two of those data points are mailing address and service address. Those two data points are often the same but not always – because some customers may own multiple properties or prefer to receive mail through a P.O. box, etc. 

Due to a clerical error, the service address data points all got shuffled around. TriRiver Water has since confirmed exactly when in the process this happened and that the mistake did not affect any other data points. 

That means anyone who received a letter, received the correct letter for their property. The letter they received just had the wrong service address listed on the front of the envelope.

Of the 1,099 letters sent out, 81 percent of them should’ve been sent with the same billing address and service address. 

The remaining 207 letters break down into 82 sent to PO boxes, 79 sent to mailing addresses outside of Siler City, and 46 sent to customers who had duplicate properties associated with their mailing address. These 207 customers again received the correct letter, they just may not be able to determine which property the letter’s contents relate to because the service address listed is incorrect. 

We apologize for any confusion this has caused. Please do not hesitate to call us at 919-777-1122 if you have further questions or would like more information about your current service line material status.

Let us reassure you we triple checked our data to make sure the clerical mistake only affected this particular situation. No billing data was affected in any way.

In addition, the letters are purely informative. TriRiver Water has not confirmed the validity of the current service line classifications. That process is just beginning. 

So if you received a letter saying your home has a lead service line, that is purely based on old data. It may not be accurate. TriRiver Water will spend the next months investigating and verifying the data. You will receive a new letter (likely in fall 2026) when your service line materials have been confirmed.

Water service cutoffs will resume in November for delinquent accounts in Chatham County and Siler City.

New TriRiver Water customers in those areas should immediately make sure that their accounts are up-to-date and in good standing.

TriRiver Water has not enforced service shutoffs or charged late fees since incorporating customers from Chatham County and Siler City. This was done to help ease the transition and avoid any cutoffs due to confusion or technical problems.

The merger happened in July. All customers have now had multiple billing cycles to set up their accounts and figure out TriRiver Water payment procedures. If you still have any questions or concerns, please call our customer service team at 919-775-8215 or visit one of our three customer service centers.

For Siler City, late fees will begin October 16. The first cutoffs will happen November 6.

For Chatham County, late fees will begin October 27. The first cutoffs will happen November 17.

TriRiver Water will attempt to contact customers with delinquent accounts multiple times before carrying out a service cutoff. 

A Siler City neighborhood with chronically low water pressure is getting an upgrade.

People living in the Homewood Acres neighborhood around Tanglewood Drive have spent years dealing with low water pressure. This is because the standpipe water tower that serves the area is located right on Tanglewood Drive. That proximity means there’s little elevation difference between the neighborhood and the water tank, which results in lower average water pressure.

To address the problem, TriRiver Water will update the area’s water system infrastructure, removing the old standpipe and making some other necessary adjustments to allow the pumping station on Dogwood Avenue to directly supply the water pressure to the neighborhood. 

The goal of these adjustments is to bring the customers with the lowest water pressure up to around 40 pounds per square inch (psi). To do this, TriRiver Water will need to ratchet up the water pressure for everyone in the area. The affected homes will see an average of approximately 20 more psi when the adjustments are completed. 

While this is great news for most people living around Tanglewood Drive, uniformly increasing the water pressure may not be welcomed by everybody living in the area. Some people may like their water pressure as it is now, or they may be concerned that older pipes or appliances in their home won’t be able to handle the increased pressure (residential plumbing code calls for homes to have a max water pressure of 80 psi).

For those reasons, TriRiver Water is providing free pressure reducing valves (PRV) to everyone living in the area. PRVs are installed on the home’s plumbing system and help regulate the water pressure coming into a home. Consider contacting a licensed plumber to install the PRV or to give you specific advice about how this pressure increase will affect your home's plumbing.

How to get your PRV

TriRiver Water will have the PRVs available for pickup at Siler City Town Hall at 311 North 2nd Avenue. TriRiver Water representatives in the water billing department (located on the bottom floor of the building) will be available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. If you are unable to get to Siler City Town Hall during normal business hours, please call TriRiver Water Engineering at 919-777-1122.

We want to make sure everybody has a chance to install a PRV before the water pressure is increased. Tentatively, we plan to increase the water pressure in the fall of 2025. For this reason, please contact TriRiver Water even if you do not wish to receive a free PRV. This will allow us to mark you off the contact list. You may call us at 919-777-1122 or click here to quickly opt-out online. 

TriRiver Water customers looking for in-person assistance in Pittsboro or Siler City now have two new options.

In Pittsboro, TriRiver Water moved 0.5 mile down East Street to the Chatham Commons Shopping Center. The address of our new location is 630 East Street, Suite 3, Pittsboro, NC, 27312.

In Siler City, TriRiver Water opened a new location in the same building where Siler City customers used to pay their water bills. Our location is at the bottom floor of the Siler City Town Hall building on North 2nd Avenue.

The new locations can help any TriRiver Water customer with billing or service questions. 

Chatham County nd Siler City can also get their new account numbers at these locations. However, those numbers will also show up on their first bill from TriRiver Water -- and there's no rush to get the account number as TriRiver Water will not charge late fees for the first two months of service.

Merger FAQs

Customers who wish to pay their bill in person can go to any TriRiver Water location listed below or utilize any of our other convenient payment options.

City of Sanford Municipal Building

 225 East Weatherspoon Street, Sanford, NC 27330

Siler City Town Hall

 311 N 2nd Ave, Siler City, NC, 27344

Chatham Commons Shopping Center

 630 East Street, Pittsboro, NC, 27312

You can also pay at your local Walmart, Piggly Wiggly, or any CheckFree Pay payment center. You must bring your bill payment stub to utilize these in-person payment options.

Explosions rocked the Sanford Water Filtration Facility – but it was all part of the plan.

Construction crews set and detonated explosives to help break up solid rock that needed to be dug up as part of the ongoing expansion of the water plant.

Sanford Water Filtration Facility is undergoing a $390 million expansion that will create an added capacity of 18 million gallons per day. Construction began on the expansion project in October 2024. 

The recent controlled explosions took place on the north side of the facility’s grounds. One explosion location will be where a new finished water pump station is built. The other location will be where the new granular activated (GAC) carbon filters will be located. Those filters remove unwanted contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (more commonly known as PFAS).

The GAC technology will be used in conjunction with advanced settling and filtration technology that will allow TriRiver Water to continue to provide high-quality drinking water that exceeds regulatory standards for many years to come.

In the first 8 months of construction, crews are making great progress. They have already built a 2 million gallon clearwell, adjacent to the existing clearwell. These two storage facilities are capable of holding nearly 4 million gallons of pristine drinking water. 

What is a clearwell? Learn about the water filtration process

Of course, there is still a lot of work left to complete, but the project remains on schedule to finish in 2028.

When the facility’s upgrades are complete, the increased capacity and water quality will benefit more than just TriRiver Water customers. That’s because Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs signed on as partners in the expansion project. In return for helping offset the cost of the project, those towns respectively will be able to take 6 million gallons per day and 4 million gallons per day of the finished water from the facility.

While each partner will own a proportional stake in the expanded facility, Sanford will manage it, retain sole authority over its operation, and maintain an ownership stake.

Chatham County and Siler City are next in line to join TriRiver Water.

TriRiver Water completed a thorough desktop study of water service lines in Sanford and is now turning to statistical analysis to identify the remaining unknown lines.

Out of the more than 22,500 service lines in Sanford, there are fewer than 2,000 whose material makeup remains unknown as of early June.

The Environmental Protection Agency charged all water utilities with completing this identification process before Nov. 1, 2027. TriRiver Water remains on schedule to successfully accomplish that task.

The next step in the process is statistical analysis. North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) supports and set standards for the use of statistical analysis in completing the identification phase of the lead service line project. 

SEE ALSO: What is lead & why are we working to keep it out of drinking water?

To complete statistical analysis, TriRiver Water has created a random but representative sample of more than 300 of the remaining unknown service lines. 

These lines will all be investigated, identified and catalogued. The first batch of more than 150 were completed at the end of June. Crews will resume the process on the week of August 11.

The investigations will be done by field crews wearing high-visibility safety vests and driving vehicles marked as “Palmetto Underground Solutions.” T

The field crews will use compressed air to dig test holes where the service line runs between the water main and the home. You may notice minor digging, vacuum excavation or other equipment usage. The crews will close up the holes the same day. They may also use temporary flags or other utility markings during the process; please do not disturb these as it could result in the process taking longer.

During the process, we do not expect there to be any water service interruptions.

When both batches of service line samples are identified, the results determine next steps.

If none of the 300+ lines are identified as lead or galvanized needing replacement, NCDEQ regulations state that with 95% confidence, we can conclude that Sanford has fewer than 1% of service lines containing lead. 

If some of the service lines are identified as lead or galvanized needing replacement, those homeowners will be notified immediately and educated about what this means for them and their family. 

Typical water pressure has been restored to TriRiver Water customers in the Bear Creek area near Chatham Central High School.

The excessive rain from Tropical Storm Chantal on Monday washed out part of NC-902 right between the entrances to Chatham Central High School and Chatham County Southwest District Park. The washout damaged the watermain that ran under that part of the road, thus significantly reducing the water pressure for people living nearby.

To fix the water pressure, TriRiver Water crews had to backfill the system and redirect the water around the broken watermain. This took multiple days to accomplish. 

The NC-902 watermain remains out of commission until North Carolina Department of Transportation is able to put the highway back together. 

TriRiver Water is also looking into ways to rebuild the watermain that could prevent it from breaking in the event of another similar washout.

The most recent TriRiver Water merger nearly doubled the utility’s customer base.

On July 1, Chatham County and Siler City water utility customers officially joined the TriRiver Water family. Those mergers added approximately 17,000 customers, upping TriRiver Water’s customer base to around 40,000. TriRiver Water now services Sanford, Pittsboro, Chatham County and Siler City – an area nearly the size of Rhode Island.

The additions of Chatham County and Siler City come exactly a year after Sanford and Pittsboro merged to form TriRiver Water. The formation and continued expansion of TriRiver Water aims to better meet the water and wastewater demands of a growing region. Growing together ensures a stronger, more resilient water system that’s more reliable and affordable for every customer.

You can learn more about the TriRiver Water mergers by visiting www.TriRiverWater.com/Mergers.

For customers, there will be no service disruption. They can expect to receive the same high-quality water services they’ve grown accustomed to. They will have a gap between July 1 and July 7 where no payments can be accepted. Starting July 8, customers will have new, active account numbers with TriRiver Water. Answers to questions about billing and account changes can be found at www.TriRiverWater.com/FAQ.

TriRiver Water is also opening two new in-person customer centers: one in Pittsboro and one in Siler City. The Pittsboro location (630 East Street, Pittsboro, NC, 27312) opened July 1. The Siler City location (bottom floor of the Siler City Town Hall building – 311 N 2nd Ave, Siler City, NC, 27344) is receiving upgrades and will open soon. These customer service centers can assist customers with any questions and accept in-person payments. 

Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Chantal caused wastewater spills from the TriRiver Water system in Chatham County. 

Both spills happened in the same area and spilled an estimated 291,000 gallons each. The spills happened on July 6, 2025 at the Siler City Wastewater Treatment Plant and in the collection system at a manhole located near 198 Utility Drive, Siler City, NC 27344. The plant spill happened at the headworks/Barscreen area and Influent Pump Station wet well.

Of the 582,00 gallons that escaped the TriRiver Water system, approximately 72,750 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into Loves Creek.

This overflow was related to Tropical Storm Chantal that dropped an estimated 7.5 inches of rain in a few hours. 

Emergency Management (after hours) was notified of the event on July 06, 2025 via phone call, and the North Carolina Division of Water Quality was notified on July 07, 2025 via email and phone conversations and are reviewing the matter. 

For more information contact TriRiver Water at (919) 775-8215 or Division of Water Quality’s Raleigh Regional office at (919) 791-4238.

TriRiver Water rates and service fees for 2025-2026 have been approved.

Sanford City Council approved the rates and fees in June 2025 as part of the annual budget. A big goal of this year’s billing structure is standardizing fees for Sanford, Pittsboro, Chatham County and Siler City.

With all four areas now officially merged under the TriRiver Water umbrella (although still operated as individual cost centers), it was important to have the same type of services and fees throughout the group.

For example, Chatham County did not have an after hours reconnection fee because they did not offer that service. TriRiver Water does offer that service, so we wanted to bring it to Chatham County as well.

Another way TriRiver Water has standardized billing is making fees like account set up, sewer cleanout, Fats Oils & Grease, meter set, water tap, etc. uniform throughout the entire service area. These fees all simply cover the cost of the respective service (i.e. how much it costs to purchase and install a meter), so there’s no reason to have them priced differently in different areas.

Water rates, on the other hand, are not so simply derived. The rates are the main way TriRiver Water covers operating costs. Sanford’s operating costs are different from Pittsboro’s, which are different from Chatham County’s, which are different from Siler City’s. Each area remains its own cost center – for now.

The ultimate goal of these mergers is to reach a type of rate parity where the costs to operate the unified system are shared among all customers. That larger customer base would mean lower costs per customer and less volatility year to year.

But to reach rate parity the merger agreements for each area stipulated that they remain separate cost centers until capital improvements can be made to connect all the regions and have them working as one entity. The idea behind this was that customers in no service area would be forced to pay more to subsidize another area coming into the group. Each area’s rates cover its own cost of operation until capital improvement projects are finished and paid off, then we can usher in rate parity.

Sanford water rate change

Sanford water rates are going up 4.75% for both water and sewer.

That’s the lowest water rate increase since 2019-2020 and the lowest sewer increase since 2023-2024.

Sanford Rate Changes

Pittsboro water rate change

Pittsboro water rates are increasing by just 2% for both water and sewer.

Some fees have been adjusted to bring services and fees in line with the other TriRiver Water service areas.

Chatham County water rate change

Chatham County water rates will remain the same according to the approved 2025-2026 budget.

Some fees have been adjusted to bring services and fees in line with the other TriRiver Water service areas.

Siler City water rate change

Siler City water rates will remain the same according to the approved 2025-2026 budget.

Some fees have been adjusted to bring services and fees in line with the other TriRiver Water service areas.

Starting July 1, 2025, TriRiver Water will take over the responsibility of providing water and wastewater service to the Town of Siler City.

The merger was talked about and worked on for years before Siler City Board of Commissioners officially approved it in October 2024. The agreement designated July 1, 2025 as the date when TriRiver Water would take over operations from the town.

TriRiver Water was created in 2024 when Sanford and Pittsboro merged utility services in an effort to strengthen and improve their water utilities. The addition of Siler City and Chatham County (both joining July 1) will continue to strengthen the resilience of the region’s water system and allow for continued development and economic growth in the area. 

To learn more about TriRiver Water mergers visit www.TriRiverWater.com/Mergers

New TriRiver Water customers will not notice any disruption or change in service when the merger officially happens. Customers will not have to pay any transfer or rollover fees. However, your billing account number will change, as well as possibly where and how you pay your bill.

New account numbers will be available starting July 8. You will see your new account number on your August bill, or you can call 919-775-8215 after July 8 to get your new account number. Please note that TriRiver Water will not charge any late payment fees for the first 2 months of the transition period.

If your Siler City water utility bill drafts from your checking or savings account, that will automatically transfer over. However, if you use online bill pay to draft a check each month, you’ll need to update your records with your new account number and change the payee from “Town of Siler City” to “TriRiver Water.”

If you pay online, you will do so at www.TriRiverWater.com/Pay after July 8.

Customers who prefer to pay in person may do so at 311 North Second Avenue, Room 101 (first floor), Siler City, NC 27344, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Payment systems will be unavailable from July 1-7. Customers may begin making payments for their June bill to TriRiver Water on July 8.

Customers with more questions about billing or the merger can visit www.TriRiverWater.com/FAQ or call customer service at 919-775-8215.

Heavy rain and localized flooding in Sanford on Thursday caused sewage overflows at four different manholes.

Sanford saw a deluge with several inches of rain falling in a few hours Thursday afternoon. Flooding damaged cars, threatened businesses and forced swift water rescue teams to help stranded residents.

The quickly rising water also resulted in a total of 3,900 gallons of wastewater overflowing into Little Buffalo Creek and Skunk Creek in the Cape Fear River Basin. TriRiver Water crews observed that the overflow stopped by 10:30 p.m. Thursday. Due to the amount of rain, the wastewater was heavily diluted by the time it reached those creeks and no fish kills or other observable environmental problems have been reported.

The four locations where manholes overflowed were located at:

• E Rose Street between S 4th and S 5th streets (2,400 gal)
• S 3rd Street near Alcott Street (600 gal)
• S 3rd Street near Austin Street (600 gal)
• Garden Street near Fire Tower Road (300 gal)

Per state law, the North Carolina Division of Water Resources has been notified and is reviewing the matter. 

Further questions about this sanitary sewer overflow should be directed to the TriRiver Water Service Center at 919-775-8247.

TriRiver Water crews will need to temporarily close some roads in Siler City to complete a sewer rehab project.

The project will begin with CCTV investigations. This is when a crew sends a camera through the sewer system to evaluate what repairs need to be made and where.

Work will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11. Crews will close Chatham Ave from 3^rd Street to Beaver Street. Second Street and Raleigh Street will also be closed between Birch Avenue and 2^nd Avenue.

The roads will remain closed until work is completed—which should happen before 7 a.m. June 12.

The second phase of CCTV work will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 11. Crews will close Raleigh Street from Dogwood Avenue to Chatham Avenue. In addition, Birch Avenue will be closed from 2^nd Street to Beaver Street.

This phase should be completed before 7 a.m. June 12.

The third and final phase of the project is schedule to begin at 7 a.m. Thursday, June 12, and last a month -- reopening at the end of the day July 11. This phase will be when the sewer repairs are made. The repairs will require open-cutting on part of the roads.

During this phase, crews will close Raleigh Street from Dogwood Avenue to Chatham Avenue, Birch Avenue from 2^nd Street to Beaver Street, and Beaver Street from Birch to Chatham.

Local traffic will be allowed access to the streets; only through traffic will be prohibited.

TriRiver Water is well on its way to upgrading all the water meters in Sanford.

As of late March, crews had successfully installed 10,821 new water meters, leaving another 11,993 more to install before the end of the year.

The project launched in October 2024 and promises to be completed on schedule before the end of 2025. The upgraded meters provide more data to customers, which can give them better control over their water usage.

The new meters will be connected to an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). This infrastructure transmits and stores a new reading from every meter every 15 minutes, or around 2,900 a month. Compare that to the previous method, which consisted of a person coming out manually and reading the meter once a month. 

All that data is transmitted via cellular networks and secured in a cloud-based meter data management system, which is managed by TriRiver Water. Customer-identifying information is not transmitted or stored by the system.

This data, which customers will have access to, can help them better monitor water use, which can promote conservation and cost savings. It will also allow customers to more quickly identify leaks.

Customers will be able to access the data on the TriRiver Water utility billing website or through the EyeOnWater smartphone app.  Later this year, TriRiver Water will provide complete instructions on how to access the water meter data.

TriRiver Water customers who pay their bill with a credit or debit card will notice a new convenience fee starting April 1, 2025. 

Please note that this fee is only charged to help cover the cost of the convenience of using a card for one time transactions. You can avoid paying it by using any of the following options: 

• Electronic Bank Draft (click here to enroll)
• Cash
• Check
• Money order

In order to continue to provide consistent and reliable services, TriRiver Water needs to stop absorbing the processing fees charged by credit/debit card companies. In the seven months from April to October in 2024, TriRiver Water paid $217,962.65 in card processing fees. 

A study revealed that passing on a 3.75% fee to anyone who paid with a credit card would fully cover the credit card companies' processing fees. However, TriRiver Water leaders opted instead to add a reduced credit card convenience fee of 2%.

This lower fee helps greatly reduce the expense for TriRiver Water while also not burdening customers with the full cost of using a card. If a 2% convenience fee had been in effect from April to October, the average bill would have been $1.39-$2.36 more for customers who paid with cards. Meanwhile, it would have reduced TriRiver Water's processing fee bill from $217,962.65 to $34,487.

Keeping our fees and expenses to a minimum helps TriRiver Water continue to efficiently provide you with the highest quality water in central North Carolina.

Thank you for your understanding. If you have any further questions about this or anything else associated with your TriRiver Water account, contact us at 919-775-8215.

See screenshots of what an online payment will look like with the new convenience fee added.

Following a weeklong delay, smoke testing began in Pittsboro on Monday, June 2.

The project will investigate approximately 7.5 miles of sewer lines in an effort to find any faults or openings in the system. A crew can smoke test 10,000 feet of sewer lines per day.

Smoke testing was scheduled to start May 27, but the start was delayed due to rainy conditions. Rain continued all week, meaning crews could not get any work done. But with the skies clearing, crews expect to begin work Monday morning. The whole project should take a week or so to complete. 

The smoke testing will cover much of the Pittsboro area south of Highway 64. The areas can be seen on the map below. Crews will start in Basin 1 and work their way through the system until all areas have been smoke tested.

There's been no specific incident creating the need for smoke testing. Instead, TriRiver Water engineers said this project was a form of regular maintenance due to the age of the sewer system.

How should I prepare for a smoke test?

Prior to testing, pour ½ gallon of water in all basement floor drains or seldom used sink/shower drains and be sure to flush any seldom used toilets. This ensures that drain traps are filled with water and smoke will not enter the house through any normal, working sewer-line connections. This “traps” water in the pipes, and is called “filling your traps."

Do I need to be home during a smoke test?

No, homeowners do not need to be home during testing. But please do not leave pets unattended in a confined space.

SEE ALSO: More frequently asked questions about smoke testing

Water quality levels in Sanford remain safe and unchanged after reports of elevated 1,4-dioxane levels in the North Carolina Piedmont.

The elevated levels were found in Hasketts Creek at the Asheboro Wastewater Treatment Plant. Hasketts Creek feeds into the Deep River, and the water travels more than 40 miles before it reaches TriRiver Water facilities. The added volume of water and other natural processes along the way help dilute and reduce any possible contaminants.

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) said the samples taken in Asheboro contained 1,4-dioxane concentrations above the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health advisory level. Health advisories identify the amount of a contaminant that can be in water before negative health effects can be expected to occur in humans who consume the water. So in the case of 1,4-dioxane, that level is 35 parts per billion (ppb).

The elevated 1,4-dioxane samples were found in January following a discharge from the City of Asheboro Wastewater Treatment Plant. A sample taken by the plant detected a concentration of 3,520. On the same day, NCDEQ Division of Water Resources detected 2,200 ppb in water discharged from the plant.

However, further testing downstream immediately following the initial tests failed to detect 1,4-dioxane. 

TriRiver Water tests monthly for 1,4-dioxane and has done so since 2020.

See More: TriRiver Water Annual Water Quality Reports

What is 1,4-dioxane and is it dangerous?

1,4-Dioxane is a clear liquid that easily dissolves in water. It is used primarily as a solvent in the manufacturing of chemicals and as a laboratory reagent; 1,4-dioxane also has various other uses that take advantage of its solvent properties.

1,4-Dioxane is a trace contaminant of some chemicals used in cosmetics, detergents, and shampoos. However, manufacturers now reduce 1,4-dioxane from these chemicals to low levels before these chemicals are made into products used in the home.

In 2024, the EPA ruled that "1,4-dioxane poses an unreasonable risk to human health," and published details about potential occupational dangers, inhalation dangers, drinking water dangers and more. The EPA also previously set a health advisory level of 35 ppb (which is about one drop of water in three Olympic-size swimming pools), stating that a person who drinks 2 liters of water with 1,4-dioxane concentrations above 35 ppb every day for 70 years could have a 1 in a million risk of getting cancer. 

More information from the EPA about 1,4-dioxane

Work is underway to locate and repair leaks and defects in more than 26,000 linear feet of sewer infrastructure in Pittsboro.

Atlantic Coast Contractors is using video cameras to inspect the sewer mains, manholes, catch basins, grease traps, and more in the Robeson Creek Basin. If and when the inspectors find any problems, they will fix them.

This proactive process helps maintain the quality and functionality of the sewer. Investments like this ensure the long-term health of your sewer system by catching smaller issues before they turn into more significant concerns.

Crews expect to be finding and fixing the sewers in the Robeson Creek Basin throughout this year. The crews will use minimally invasive techniques to complete their work, meaning it's unlikely you'll notice any major disruptions. But if you do come across any issues or have any questions call 919-775-8215. 

This Find It – Fix It Sewer Rehabilitation Project was made possible through a multimillion-dollar grant provided by the State of North Carolina’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allocation.

Sanford Customers

TriRiver Water bills in four cycles each month. Your location determines what cycle you are billed in and when your bill is due. TriRiver Water reads each customer's water meter before the issuance of a monthly bill. For billing purposes, readings are done in cubic feet and then converted to gallons. All active customers are billed a minimum bill at the current rate whether you use any water or not.

Billing Cycles (Run)

• Cycle 1 is due the 26th of each month
• Cycle 2 is due the 3rd of each month
• Cycle 3 is due the 6th of each month
• Cycle 4 is due the 16th of each month

1. Account Information: This section contains your bill number, customer and account number, bill date, and Run.This section contains billing information such as the amount of your previous balance, last payment, unpaid balance, current charges, bill due date, and amount due.
2. Billing Date: This is the date your bill was generated. Bill are usually generated and mailed on the same day.Due Date: This is the date that the current bill is due. Past-due balances are due 10 days after the due date.
3. Service Address: This is the location where you receive service from TriRiver Water. This might be different than your mailing address.
4. Meter Reading: This section contains your consumption information in cubic feet and the gallon equivalent. You can also find your meter read dates, actual meter readings, and the number of days in the billing cycle.Meter Number: Each customer has a meter assigned with a unique number to their service location.Present Read Date/Previous Read Date/Present Meter Reading/Previous Meter Reading/Usage: These are readings used to calculate your bill and the total gallons used. Readings are typically in 100 cubic feet increments, so a difference of one between the current reading and the prior reading would be 748 total gallons (there is 7.48 gallons in one cubic foot).  In the example, the change to 9653 from 9394 on the meter was 259 (100 cubic foot increments), or 259 cubic feet.  259 cubic feet x 7.48 gallons = 1,937 gallons.Billing Date & Read Date: The bill date covers the water used in the previous month. For example, the bill date of 08/06/23 covers water used from 06/17/2023 to 07/18/2023.  Current Charges: This section breaks down charges by account type (residential, commercial, etc.), account rate (inside or outside city limits), and water service or sewer service | Water:  The amount due for water used. | Sewer:  Sewer charges are based on the amount of water used.  The bill shows the rate based on how much water a customer uses. The rate reflects what TriRiver charges for 100 units of water, as shown on the bills. Each unit is 1 cubic foot, or 7.48 gallons. A customer using 300 units over a month would be charged a minimum of $21.88 for water and $20.70 for sewer inside city limits. The total bill is $42.58. This is the minimum bill for 300 cubic feet of water. Please see the rate schedule for different rate charges.
5. Bill SummaryThe bottom portion of your bill is the remittance, which should be included with your payment and mailed to our utility bill lockbox processor. Information such as your account/customer number, service address, due dates, and bill number is repeated here.   Previous Balance: This is the total of all previous balances listed on your account prior to the printing of this bill.  Generally, this is the previous billing period plus any late or disconnect fees.   Current Charges: These are the current charges, as explained above. Total Amount Due: This is the total amount of all past due and current charges that are due on your account.   Past due balances are still due and payable 10 days after the due date to avoid disconnection.

Pittsboro Customers

TriRiver Water reads each customer's water meter before the issuance of a monthly bill. All active customers are billed a minimum bill at the current rate whether you use any water or not.

1. Account Information: This section contains your customer number, service location, bill number, bill date, account number, account type, and due date.Service Location is where you receive service from TriRiver Water. it might be different from your mailing address.Bill Date is the date your bill was generated. Bills are generally generated and mailed on the same day.Account Type is the service address' categorization.Due Date is when the current bill is due.
2. Billing Information: This section contains billing information such as the amount of your previous balance, total current billing, any adjustments, last payment received, penalties charged, unpaid balance, and total amount due.
3. Meter Reading: This section contains your consumption information in cubic feet. You can also find your meter serial number, meter read dates, actual meter readings, usage, and charge amounts.Meter Number: Each customer has a meter assigned with a unique number to their service location.Present Read Date/Previous Read Date/Present Meter Reading/Previous Meter Reading/Usage: Locate the current reading, previous reading, and usage on your bill. These are readings used to calculate your bill and the total cubic feet used. Take your current read and subtract the previous read; since the meter is read in gallons but converted to cubic feet on the bill, you must divide that difference by 7.48 to create the cubic foot measurement.Bill Date & Read Date: The bill date is when your bill was generated, and teh read date covers the period when you used water. The usage is water used in the prvious month.Description: This section breaks down charges by meter categorization (small/large), account rate (inside or outside city limits), and water service or sewer service.Water:  The amount due for water used. Sewer:  Sewer charges are based on the amount of water used.  The bill shows the base charge amount and amount due based on consumption. (See rate schedule for charge amounts).
4. Bill Summary: The bottom portion of your bill is the remittance, which should be included with your payment and mailed to our utility bill lockbox processor. Information such as your service location, bill number, account/customer number, due date, and total due is repeated here. 

Smoke testing is the industry standard method of identifying sources of surface inflow to the sanitary sewer, which leads to reduced efficacy of local sewer treatment plants.

A smoke test uses non-toxic smoke and high capacity blowers to blow smoke through the sanitary sewer pipes. In the image below, a blower is placed on top of a manhole, forcing smoke down into the sewer. If smoke exits the ground where there is no connection to the sewer lines, this indicates a place where rain or surface water could enter the sewer system. 

During a smoke test, a work crew will walk the neighborhood, take pictures of any potential faults in the system where smoke is coming out of the ground. The crew will then mark those locations for repair.

Common sources of sewer inflow include:

• Roof Downspouts
• Unconnected Sewer Lines
• Abandoned Sewer Lines
• Leaking Manholes
• Cross Connected Storm Drains
• Broken Laterals or Mains
• Cross Connected Sanitary Lines
• Cellar Drains
• Yard / Foundation Drains
• Sump Pumps

Sewer testing helps TriRiver Water identify and fix any possible faults before they cause problems like basement backups, overflows, or higher treatment costs.

How should I prepare for a smoke test?

Prior to testing, pour ½ gallon of water in all basement floor drains or seldom used sink/shower drains and be sure to flush any seldom used toilets. This ensures that drain traps are filled with water and smoke will not enter the house through any normal, working sewer-line connections. This “traps” water in the pipes, and is called “filling your traps."

Do I need to be home during a smoke test?

No, homeowners do not need to be home during testing. But please do not leave pets unattended in a confined space.

How will I know if smoke enters my house if I am not home during testing?

You won't. The primary purpose of sewer smoke testing is to identify improper sources of water entering the public portion of the sewer system. 

While it is also beneficial to identify deficient plumbing connections on private property, this is not the main intent of sewer smoke testing. 

If you have concerns about the plumbing on your private property, please contact a licensed plumber.

Will smoke testing the sewers allow smoke to get into my house?

If your plumbing is correctly installed and functioning properly -- and your “traps” are all filled with water -- then no smoke should enter your home. Very few homes typically get smoke in them from sewer smoke testing.

What does it mean if smoke is in my house? What should I do? 

If all sewer connections are working properly and there are no open faults in the home, all smoke should run through the sewer lines and out your building’s roof vents. This is normal.

The smoke used for sewer smoke testing is harmless and leaves no residue — it serves only to identify open faults in the house’s plumbing. Once inside the house, the smoke will dissipate in approximately 20-30 minutes. 

In the unusual event that this harmless smoke enters your home, you will need to contact a licensed plumber as soon as possible. That's because the smoke entering your home means there is likely an open fault in your home. The smoke being used for testing is not dangerous, but if it gets in your home that means there's an opening where sewer gas could get into your home. Sewer gas is poisonous and highly dangerous to residents.

If you notice smoke entering your home during testing, you should open doors and windows and leave the house until the smoke dissipates in order to reduce exposure. It is important to immediately notify a member of the smoke testing crew working in your area so the fault can be identified and addressed. You should then call a licensed plumber and repair the fault as soon as possible.

Smoke in your house could be indicating that:

• The vents connected to your home’s sewer pipes are inadequate, defective, or improperly installed.
• The traps and seals under sinks, showers, tubs, toilets, and all other drains are dry, defective, or improperly installed.
• The pipes, connections, or seals in the wastewater drainage system or under your home are damaged, defective, are missing plugs, or are improperly installed.

If the smoke is harmless, why is it recommended to evacuate the building?

This is a precautionary measure in case the smoke is due to a real fire rather than the sewer testing. But also, if the smoke is entering your home, dangerous sewer gas could be entering your home too. Although the testing smoke is not toxic, dense smoke or prolonged exposure can be irritating to mucus membranes so it is always best to minimize exposure.

Can the smoke test activate the smoke alarms?

Yes, smoke alarms may be activated by testing. Open windows or doors for ventilation if possible.

What does it mean if smoke is in my yard or driveway?

This could mean that a drain on the property is connected to the sewer lateral or that the lateral has breaks or cracks in the pipe, causing drain runoff that contributes to sewer backups and overflow.

Is the smoke hazardous?

No. The smoke is non-toxic and harmless. It is light in color, leaves no residue, and does not create a fire hazard. People with particular respiratory sensitivity should avoid exposure to all types of smoke.

What is TriRiver Water's Meter Reading Process?

TriRiver Water's system includes both traditional analog meters that are read manually and automated meters that are read electronically via radio signals.

For the manual reads, TriRiver Water requires the meter reader to verify the customer's' name and address, meter number, route, sequence number, and meter status. The meter reader manually keys in the reading (without access to previous reads). This process is designed to reduce errors in the reading.

Electronic reads are done via remote, hand-held devices that rely on radio signals. For automated meters, the meter reader does not need to physically access the meter.

If you would like additional detail, please call 919-775-8215 Monday through Friday during the 8 a.m.-5 p.m. timeframe.

TriRiver Water Launches July 1

Check out these easy pay options for Pittsboro customers.

Like to know more about how the merger affects you as a customer?

Town of Pittsboro FAQs

City of Sanford FAQs

Introducing TriRiver Water...