The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission and the Division of Water Resources within the Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) will hold public hearings on December 4, 9, and 11 to receive feedback on the draft environmental impact statement related to Fuquay-Varina’s request for an interbasin transfer certificate.
The hearing scheduled for December 9 in Raleigh will be livestreamed. However, this stream is for viewing and listening only; those wishing to make oral comments must attend in person and register at the event.
The comment period for the draft statement has been extended until April 1, 2026. Written comments can be submitted by mail or email.
Fuquay-Varina is seeking approval to transfer up to 6.17 million gallons per day from the Cape Fear River basin to the Neuse River basin by 2055 to meet future water demands. The town currently relies on water purchased from neighboring systems—Raleigh and Johnston County in the Neuse basin, and Harnett County in the Cape Fear basin—but projections indicate these sources may not meet demand by 2030.
The city’s preferred alternative involves sourcing water from the Tri-Rivers treatment plant in Sanford, located within the Cape Fear River basin. Approval of this plan requires an interbasin transfer certificate.
The draft environmental impact study examines potential effects on both source and receiving basins if the certificate is granted. The document is available through the DEQ website as well as via North Carolina’s Department of Administration Environmental Review Office.
A hydrological model used in evaluating alternatives can be accessed upon request through DEQ’s page regarding Fuquay-Varina’s interbasin transfer application. Virtual training sessions on accessing this model are set for December 2 and December 16, with registration required via maya.holcomb@deq.nc.gov.
Members of the public are encouraged to participate in hearings or submit written comments about the draft study before April 1, 2026. Comment time at hearings may be limited depending on turnout.
Written comments should be addressed to Maya Holcomb at Division of Water Resources, 512 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC, 27604, or sent by email to maya.holcomb@deq.nc.gov. All comments must be postmarked or emailed by April 1, 2026.
Information about Fuquay-Varina’s application and related materials can be found online at Solicitud de transferencia entre cuencas de la ciudad de Fuquay-Varina.
