Public Utilities

The Water Division of the Oak Island Public Utilities Department provides water service and wastewater collection and treatment. The division strives to provide a safe and efficient level of service while ensuring the Town complies with all state and federal regulations.

Employees handle new tap installations, day-to-day maintenance, meter reading, service cutoffs and restorations, requests for line locations and a variety of other tasks in the daily operation of the Water & Wastewater systems. Water distribution is primarily composed of two (2) complimenting systems:

East System

• Primarily constructed in 1970-1971.
• Materials used PVC.
• Line sizes from 2” to 6”
• Approximately 20 miles of pipe

West System

• Construction started in 1967 (beach front)
• Major upgrade in 1977
• Line sizes from 2” - 14”
• Approximately 100 miles of pipe

Resources

Establish or Transfer Wastewater Services

For more information on other Water Division services, please select from the options provided below:

• Cross-Connections/Backflow Prevention
• Utility Rates
• Transfer or Establish Water/Sewer Service
• Annual Water Quality Report

The purpose of the Wastewater Division is to provide services for the Town of Oak Island by collecting, containing, treating and disposing of the community's wastewater. The division is made up of 10 hard working town employees that maintain 34 gravity lift stations, 9 vacuum stations and 2 wastewater treatment plants. Along with these stations, the Wastewater Division maintains Bill Smith Park as one of the disposal sites for treated wastewater. The Wastewater Division is committed to providing our community with a safe and efficient sewer system.

Satellite Water Reclamation Facility

• Influent Area: Wastewater flows into the SWRF at a controlled rate, flow comes into the wet well.
• Drum Screen: Wastewater comes in and the drum turns and screens out the debris. The screen removes debris down to 1/16th of an inch in size. This is critical to protect the membranes from getting damaged. 
• Anoxic and Aeration Trains: Flow comes in from the drum screen into the anoxic chamber. 
• Membrane / Blower Area: The blowers provide oxygen to the aeration trains as well as to the membrane trains. 
• Membranes: Manufactured by Siemens, life span from 7 – 10 years 
• Effluent Area: The Effluent produced is stored under the ground floor, approximately 75,000 gals is stored there. The Effluent is also pumped to the old Yaupon Water Tank which can store 75,000 gals.
• This facility is controlled by a automated computer system. 
• Our minimum desired flow is 65,000 gals per day, our maximum flow is 400,000 gals per day.
• Current termination point of Reuse Line: Next to Town's well house near the intersection of Live Oak and HWY 133. The location is on Oak Island Golf Course property.
• 65th Street Valve Vault Control Station: We can send flow east or west. The Commercial area can go to all three (3) treatment facilities.

Fats, Oils, & Grease (F.O.G.)

Why are Fats, Oil, & Grease a problem? Grease hardens at room temperature and can cause blockages in home plumbing pipes and even overflows in your home or yard. These substances also cause back-ups in the Public Utilities collections system. Sewer back-ups cause damage, create health hazards and threaten the natural environment.

NOTE: The most recent Water Quality Report can be found directly at OakIslandNC.gov/WaterReport(PDF, 3MB).

The Annual Drinking Water Quality Report provides a snapshot of the previous year's water quality, including details about where water is sourced from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies.

The goal is to provide a safe and dependable supply of drinking water, with a transparent explanation of the efforts made to continually improve the water treatment process and protect water resources. 

The Public Utilities Department is committed to ensuring the quality of our drinking water, and to providing informed reports on a consistent, annual basis.

Click the links below to view the current and recent reports.

• 2024 Wastewater Collection & Treatment Report 2024
• 2023 Wastewater Collection & Treatment Report 2023
• 2021 Wastewater Collection & Treatment Report 2021
• 2019 Wastewater Collection & Treatment Report 2019
• 2018 Wastewater Collection & Treatment Report 2018

In 2005 / 2006, the Town of Oak Island transitioned from individual septic systems to a Town-wide sewer system, which tied into Brunswick County's regional infrastructure. This transition was funded through bond debt and utility fees.

Sewer Assessment Fee

This was a onetime fee of $4,200, charged for tying into the sewer system, which was scheduled to last for 10 years and has since been retired.

Sewer District Fee

This Fee is an annual charge to pay back the bond which initially funded the Sewer System. Previously applied as part of Utilities Billing, it is now applied under Tax Billing to every habitable lot that can or does benefit from the sewer service on the island portion of Town, but does not apply to parcels off-island.

It is charged at a flat rate currently set at $601.78 per year, though this amount may change as the result of future debt reduction efforts, along with regular third-party evaluation and review.

It will be applied until the bond debt is paid, with a current projection of 2035 / 2036, or possibly sooner.