Fayetteville, North Carolina Water Outage Today
Live Fayetteville water outage reports, Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC)’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Fayetteville, North Carolina in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in Fayetteville?
Drinking water in Fayetteville, North Carolina is supplied by Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC), which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in North Carolina are regulated by the North Carolina DEQ Public Water Supply Section.
To report no water or a main break, call Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) at 910-483-1382.
Fayetteville tap water system, by the numbers
Federal records name Fayetteville Public Works Commission as the public water system for Fayetteville, with about 226,441 people on its mains. Customers know it as Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC); the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Fayetteville Public Works Commission (NC0326010) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 226,441 through 93,571 service connections |
| Source of the water | Surface water (rivers, lakes or reservoirs) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 2 surface intakes, 2 treatment points, 3 storage tanks and reservoirs |
| State regulator | North Carolina DEQ Public Water Supply Section |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 1 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Source water and treatment in Fayetteville
Fayetteville drinks surface water. Fayetteville Public Works Commission draws it from the Cape Fear River and Glenville Lake and treats it before it goes into the distribution system. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Treatment_Plant_Hoffer WTP 1 and Treatment_Plant_Glenville WTP. After treatment the water is held in 3 storage tanks and reservoirs, which is the buffer that keeps taps running for a few hours after a pump or main fails.
Why this matters when the water stops. Because the water is drawn from open surface sources, it has to be filtered and disinfected continuously. A plant problem therefore hits everyone at once, unlike a main break, which only dries up the blocks on either side of the damaged pipe.
Main breaks and shutoffs in Fayetteville: the usual causes
Water outages are local, so the likely cause depends on weather, pipe age and the grid. For Fayetteville, these stand out.
- Freezing weather. Fayetteville sees about 44 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 3 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on January 8, 2017. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 3 days, ending January 3, 2018. Frost pushes into shallow service lines first. Mains follow when the ground heaves and thaws, which is why break counts climb a day or two after the temperature swings.
- Tropical storms and hurricanes. Storm surge, flooding and multi-day power cuts are the main threat to treatment plants and pump stations in North Carolina. Utilities in the region routinely issue precautionary boil notices after a storm, even where nothing is found in the water.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 46 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Cumberland County from 2015 through 2026, and 8 days a year bring an inch of rain or more. Flooding is hard on water systems in three ways: it erodes soil around pipe crossings, drowns pumps and electrical equipment, and can let contaminated runoff into the mains, which triggers precautionary boil notices.
- Summer demand. Fayetteville has about 16 days a year at or above 95°F, and the hottest day in the record came on July 5, 2024. Lawn irrigation and cooling push demand to its yearly high, so pumps run hard, tanks drain faster than they refill and pressure sags on high ground in the evening.
- Younger pipe, different risks. Only 24.8% of occupied homes in Fayetteville predate 1970 (US 35.5%), so more of the network is newer plastic or ductile iron. Breaks tend to come from construction damage, pressure surges and weather rather than age.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Cumberland County number 140 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
Fayetteville weather and water-main stress, 2015–2025
Main break season in Fayetteville runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 44 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 2.8 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 1.5 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 16.3 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 2.3 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 8 |
| Average annual precipitation | 50.1 in |
| Wettest year | 2018 (66.1 in) |
| Driest year | 2022 (36.4 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | January 8, 2017 |
| Hottest day in the record | July 5, 2024 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 15.5 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2018 with 66.1 inches; the driest was 2022 with 36.4. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The figures are reanalysis estimates for the center of Fayetteville, not readings from a single weather station, so treat them as a guide to how often each kind of weather occurs rather than as official records.
Boil water advisories and the federal violation record for Fayetteville
EPA lists no health-based violations for Fayetteville Public Works Commission since 2015. It also lists 4 monitoring or reporting entries that are about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent entries, all monitoring or reporting:
- August 2020: A public notice and annual reports violation It is marked resolved.
- July 2020: A late or missing annual water quality report It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Public notice and annual reports | 0 | 3 |
| Disinfection byproducts | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Monitoring and other Health-based
Violations are counted by the year the compliance period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
A boil water notice in Fayetteville is a separate thing from a violation. Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) issues one when pressure falls low enough for contamination to enter the pipes, after a main break is repaired, or when a routine test comes back positive. The North Carolina DEQ Public Water Supply Section oversees the process, and the notice stays until clean samples come back, usually a day or two after pressure returns.
What the lead tests and housing age say about Fayetteville
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Fayetteville Public Works Commission is 0 ppb (2025). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is well under it.
Highest result on file: 1 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
The age of the housing matters more than the utility's test average: 24.8% of occupied homes in Fayetteville predate 1970 and 1986 was the year lead pipe and solder were banned. Flush the cold tap after an outage and ask Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) whether your service line is on its lead inventory.
Restoration times for water outages in Fayetteville
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in Fayetteville usually needs 4 to 8 hours to isolate the pipe, dig, repair, flush and restore pressure. Large transmission mains, deep pipes and breaks under busy streets can take a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | Time window posted ahead; water often returns early |
| Ordinary main break | About 4 to 8 hours after the crew is on site |
| Large or deep main | One to three days, longer if parts must be ordered |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | As long as the outage itself, plus a few hours to refill tanks |
| Boil water notice after service returns | About 24 to 48 hours, until lab tests are clean |
| Frozen service line or meter | Until it thaws or a plumber repairs it |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) will post an estimated restoration time for a break that affects many customers; ask for the repair crew's estimate when you call.
How much water to keep on hand in Fayetteville
Census figures put the typical Fayetteville household at about 2.5 people. At one gallon per person per day that is 8 gallons for three days or 36 gallons for a two-week supply.
- 52.6% of households rent. Tell your landlord or property manager about a leak or outage right away, since the shutoff valve may be theirs.
- Do not forget the water heater: the tank holds roughly 30 to 50 gallons you can drink after it is switched off and allowed to cool.
- Fill the bathtub and a few large pots as soon as you hear a break is likely; that water is for flushing and washing, not drinking.
How Fayetteville compares with nearby water systems
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | Fayetteville Public Works Commission | 226,441 | Surface | 0 | 1 |
| Cary, NC | Town of Cary | 227,300 | Surface | 1 | 0 |
| Raleigh, NC | City of Raleigh | 650,000 | Surface | 0 | 0 |
| Durham, NC | City of Durham | 333,490 | Surface | 0 | 0 |
| Wilmington, NC | Cfpua-Wilmington | 212,227 | Surface | 0 | 0 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Where to find official Fayetteville water notices
Official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil advisories comes from Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC), not from this page. Our water outage guide explains what each kind of notice asks you to do.
Fayetteville quick answers about water service
Who do I call about no water in Fayetteville?
Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) at 910-483-1382, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Is Fayetteville water from a river, lake or well?
Surface water supplies Fayetteville, according to EPA records for Fayetteville Public Works Commission. It draws from the Cape Fear River and Glenville Lake.
Is the water in Fayetteville safe?
EPA lists no health-based violations for Fayetteville Public Works Commission since 2015, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 0 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. After a boil water notice, follow it until the utility lifts it.
What time of year are Fayetteville water main breaks most common?
Cold weather drives most breaks in Fayetteville, which averages about 44 freezing days a year. Expect the most calls from December through February, especially a day or two after a hard freeze when the ground thaws.
Why is my water pressure low in Fayetteville?
Low pressure often comes from a nearby main break, heavy demand on a hot evening, or a failed pressure regulator at your own home. If neighbors are affected too, report it to Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC); if only your home is, check the regulator and shutoff valve.
How long do boil water advisories last in Fayetteville?
Typically a day or two. Bacteria tests take about 24 hours, so Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) cannot end a notice until clean samples come back; the North Carolina DEQ Public Water Supply Section sets the rules for that process.
How much water should a Fayetteville household store?
Plan on one gallon per person per day for at least three days. The average Fayetteville household has about 2.5 people, which works out to roughly 8 gallons for three days and 36 for two weeks.
Are there lead service lines in Fayetteville?
Lead pipe was legal until 1986, and 24.8% of occupied homes in Fayetteville predate 1970, so it is possible in older neighborhoods. Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) can tell you what your service line is made of; a lead-certified filter is a sensible precaution if you are unsure.
Where can I see water outages in Fayetteville?
We do not run a pipe map. The report count at the top of this page shows what other people in Fayetteville have reported in the last 24 hours. For the official picture, check Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) for its outage page, alerts and social accounts.
More outage pages for Fayetteville and nearby
Other outage types in Fayetteville
- Power outages in Fayetteville
- Natural gas outages in Fayetteville
- Internet outages in Fayetteville 1 report in 24h
Water Service Outages in cities near Fayetteville
- Cary, NC 51 mi · Town of Cary Utilities
- Raleigh, NC 52 mi · Raleigh Water
- Durham, NC 65 mi · City of Durham Water Management
- Wilmington, NC 77 mi · Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA)
- Greensboro, NC 87 mi · Greensboro Water Resources
- High Point, NC 89 mi · City of High Point Public Services
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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