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Tega Cay council advances first reading of ordinance to bar new private wells
Summary
At its Jan. 28 meeting the Tega Cay City Council voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance that would prohibit new private wells that could risk cross-connection with the city water system while explicitly grandfathering existing wells and allowing limited variances where city water is unavailable.
Tega Cay — The City Council voted unanimously Jan. 28 to introduce and give first reading to an ordinance aimed at protecting the public water system by prohibiting new private wells that could cross-connect with the municipal supply. Council members approved an amendment removing the word “irrigation” from section 54-26 so that the ordinance’s grandfathering language clearly applies to all existing wells.
During public comment, resident Nancy Freys asked for clarity on whether existing wells — both household and irrigation — would be grandfathered. “Is this for new wells? I’m sure that the existing wells would be grandfathered in. However, I didn’t see that in the ordinance information and I think it would be calming to have that in writing,” Freys said.
Antonio, a city staff member who introduced the ordinance, told council the measure is intended to protect public health and the municipal system. “If you have a well, it’s staying. It’s grandfathered in,” he said, adding the ordinance would prohibit any future private wells from connecting to the city water system and would allow a variance where city water is not available. Antonio said the city would require decommissioning if an unauthorized cross-connection is found: “One bad well could infect the entire system,” he said.
Council members noted that only a small number of private wells exist in the city and emphasized the public-health rationale, citing past state changes that left a regulatory gap. Under the ordinance as amended, existing wells remain in place but cannot be connected to the water system; new wells would be prohibited except through a variance when no city water is accessible, and new well owners who later gain access to city water could be required to connect and decommission wells.
The council approved the ordinance’s introduction and first reading unanimously. A second reading and further staff refinements are expected at a future meeting before a final vote.
