Consideration of a countywide water system for the residents of Currituck County began in the early 1970’s. Feasibility studies were submitted in 1973 and again in 1982.
Construction began in 1988. Water distribution line construction was scheduled in several phases. Phase I, serving residents from Moyock south to Grandy and west to Shawboro and Gregory, was completed in September 1989. Consumers were able to tap into the system and begin using water in November 1989.
Phase II of the water system expansion began in 1999 and was completed in 2001, providing service to residents along US Highway 158 from Grandy to Point Harbor. At this time, only those properties bordering US Highway 158 are eligible for water service in Phase II.
As of May 2017, the mainland water system services 5,883 active accounts. The water plant treatment capacity is 2.9 million gallons per day, with a storage capacity of 1.9 million gallons. There are five elevated storage tanks: Moyock (100,000 gallons), High Cotton (500,000) Currituck (300,000 gallons), Grandy (100,000 gallons), and Currituck Industrial Park (300,000).
The Currituck County Water Department employs 12 people, including 9 production/distribution employees and 3 administrative employees. The water system is self-supporting and uses no tax dollars in its operating funds.
