Dare County authorizes up to $16 million from water fund to rebore failed 30‑inch main

The Dare County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously at a special meeting to authorize a budget amendment and adopt a capital project ordinance that will allow county staff to transfer up to $16,000,000 from the water fund into a capital project fund to rebore a failed 30‑inch water main under the sound between Roanoke Island and the beach.

County Manager Bobby, who presented the problem to the board, said the pipe is “50 years old” and that divers found it brittle and “really can’t be prepared” for patching. “If they could get the patch on it, they’re concerned that it would move 50 feet down the line and bust again,” Bobby said. He told commissioners the line is not repairable in place and that staff must act quickly to have replacement pipe manufactured and in place before next summer.

Why it matters: county staff said the broken line can be managed now but would leave the county “multiple millions of gallons short of water” during the summer months if not addressed. Bobby told the board the county must place orders…