Wake County has released a draft of our 50-year One Water Plan and are asking residents to review the plan and share their feedback.

The One Water Plan focuses on four key areas:

• Making sure we have enough clean water by planning wisely and protecting our groundwater;
• Improving water quality with natural solutions like rain gardens and wetlands;
• Protecting agricultural lands, forests and green spaces that keep our water systems healthy;
• Preparing for heavy rains and floods with stronger, smarter infrastructure.

The plan is the result of more than two years of technical analysis, research, stakeholder engagement and public input.

The release of the draft plan marks the final stage of public input, during which we will collect feedback to inform the final version.

We want to hear from you! The final plan will be available in early 2026 and its success depends on everyone working together.

Join us for a virtual meeting on October 1 at noon to learn more about the Wake One Water Plan. Registration is available by clicking here. View the Plan and share your feedback by answering a few short questions below by October 10. 

Wake County's Stormwater Design Manual (Version 3) is now published and available at the following website. The purpose of this document is to provide standards and guidance for the management of stormwater runoff from development in Wake County’s jurisdiction. This manual provides support to Articles 9, 10, 11 and 14 of the Wake County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and applicable State regulations which establish minimum requirements to address impacts of stormwater runoff associated with new development and expansions. It is fully incorporated into the County’s UDO under UDO Section 9-23.

This manual is considered a “living document” and updates will be made as needed to incorporate regulatory and programmatic changes.

If you are installing water softeners, water filtration systems, and related equipment, remember:

• plumbing permits are required for the installation, extension, alteration, or general repair of any plumbing system, and
• backwash from filtration or treatment systems must not be discharged into septic systems.

Per the North Carolina State Building Code: Plumbing Code and North Carolina General Statutes:

• Only a North Carolina licensed plumbing contractor or the property owner acting as their own contractor (for a single-family dwelling they own and occupy) may perform this type of installation.
• A plumbing trade permit must be obtained from Wake County Inspections & Permits and prior to beginning any work.
• All required inspections must be scheduled and passed to ensure compliance with state plumbing code requirements, including proper connection to the potable water supply.

Unpermitted or improperly installed systems may result in code violations, penalties, or removal of the work. If you have any questions about permit requirements or need assistance with the application process, please contact Wake County Inspections & Permits at (919) 856-6222.

The discharge from any type of water treatment and/ or water softener should not be discharged to the septic system or onto the ground in the initial or repair areas. The extra water and sodium added to the wastewater system can lead to irreversible premature failure of the septic system through degradation of concrete tanks and the destruction of clay soil. Both Wake County and state regulations prohibit the discharge of filter backwash to septic systems for these reasons. We recommended that you disconnect any backwash discharge from the wastewater system. 

If you have any questions about septic system requirements, please contact the Wastewater Information Specialist at wastewater@wake.gov or 919-856-7434.

Effective November 1, 2025, Wake County’s Onsite Water Protection division will implement changes to the review process for Accessory Structure Permits associated with a building permit. These changes are in response to updated regulatory requirements under state regulations in 15A NCAC 18E .0206. Beginning November 1, a site visit will be required to verify that the septic system serving the property is functioning properly and that there are no current or historical uncorrected malfunctions and to verify setbacks. A $100 site visit fee will be assessed and must be paid prior to the completion of the visit. While this change may increase the ASP permit review timeline, it prepares homeowners for long-term success of their property improvements and provides better protection of public health from failing septic systems. For questions or additional information, please contact our Wastewater Information Specialist at wastewater@wake.gov or call 919-856-7434.

The Wake County Onsite Water Protection Division invites well and septic professionals from local health department and private industry to join the “Fall 2025 Wake County OSWP Installer and Designer Workshop” on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm, at the Wake County Commons Building located at 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC. Parking at the Commons Building is free. Representatives from Fuji Clean USA and Infiltrator Water Technology will present at the workshop and perform product demonstrations as needed. The workshop is free and will be submitted to the North Carolina Registered Environmental Health Specialist board for 3 CE hours. More information at our Events page.

Is there a topic you'd like to see covered in a future newsletter? Send us your ideas at waternewsletter@wake.gov.

Know of others that would like to learn more about Wake County Water Quality Updates? Sign Up information is available on our website at the following link: Water Updates for Professionals

Wake County Water Updates | wake.gov/water