Wake County unveils '1 Water Plan' to align water management for coming decades
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Summary
Wake County presenters introduced the "1 Water Plan," a three-year effort to align drinking water, stormwater and wastewater planning across the county. The plan centers on four priorities—water supply, water quality and hydrology, land conservation, and flood resilience—and is described as a "living plan" to guide policy for the next 50 years.
Wake County presenters onstage introduced the "1 Water Plan," a countywide strategy developed over three years to align drinking water, stormwater and wastewater planning and to prepare the county for population growth and changing weather patterns. Presenter (S1) said the plan was shaped by “hundreds of hours of research” and “thousands of voices,” calling it “a single unified strategy to protect Wake County’s water.”
The plan focuses on four priority areas: optimized water supply; improved water quality and hydrology; land conservation and preservation; and flood resilience. Presenter (S1) described the aim as “clean, reliable water for everyone” and said the plan takes a 50-year view of future needs and risks.
Presenter (S2) framed the effort as systems integration, saying, “What 1 Water is trying to do is make that connection between drinking water, stormwater, wastewater, so that we have a full understanding of the value of water.” The presentation said that linking those systems will help avoid unintended environmental impacts as the county grows.
A resident who summarized outreach findings, Resident (S3), said community members voiced “concerns and fear about having enough water.” The resident said the plan accounts for environmental impacts, population growth and runoff mitigation and that incorporating the plan into local master plans has helped present a consistent message for residents.
Presenter (S4) emphasized implementation flexibility, saying the county can “adapt and pivot along the way to implement the best technologies, the best methods” to reach the plan’s goals. Presenter (S1) closed by calling the 1 Water Plan a “living plan” that the county will track and update while keeping the community involved.
No formal votes or regulatory actions were recorded in the presentation. The plan was presented as ready for implementation, with staff and partners expected to continue community engagement and monitor progress over time.
