- Home
- Departments
- Water Resources
- Drinking Water
Drinking Water
Annual Water Disinfection Change
Every year, federal AND state law requires Johnston County to change the way your water is treated. In the Clayton area (including Town of Clayton, Aqua and Carolina Water Service customers), water is normally treated with a combination of chlorine and ammonia. However, for 6 weeks in late February and March, only chlorine will be used. The water is safe to drink and use but there may be a slight odor or discoloration.
View water quality and wastewater reports.
Water System Flushing
As part of Clayton's commitment to ensure the highest quality water for our customers, our water operators must perform preventive maintenance on our service lines. This maintenance is called “Flushing”. This process is done to ensure the highest quality water for our customers as well as maintain our service lines.
Mold and Mildew
Pink residue caused by the bacteria Serratia Marcescens and black/gray residue caused by mildew are not harmful and do not mean there is a water quality problem.
These microorganisms cannot survive in chlorinated drinking water. Once the water has stood for a length of time, the chlorine will dissipate, making the wet surface an ideal place for bacteria and mildew to occur.
Bacteria and mildew do not enter your home or business through Town of Clayton water. Typically, growth will come from microscopic spores in the air, on your clothing, and pet's fur.
These microorganisms will grow in spaces that are moist and dark, with limited airflow. Some examples include toilet bowls, showerheads, shower curtains, underneath mats in bathrooms, sink faucets, and inside refrigerator water dispensers.
For more information on how to eliminate mold and mildew in your home, click here.
Discolored Water
Occasionally, the Town is required to perform water line flushing maintenance. During maintenance, homes and businesses may experience discolored water.
This temporary inconvenience is due to flushing maintenance that is required to maintain good water quality. Water lines can build up a lot of particles, such as sediment, dirt, and rust. The pressure changes created by water line flushing maintenance can disturb these particles and stir them up into the water supply.
As a result, those particles can travel into the water supply line. Customers might notice an initial “sputter” or interrupted flow followed by discolored water when first turning on the water.
This inconvenience will go away on its own, most likely in a few hours or less.
If you have any questions, please contact the Town of Clayton at 919-553-5002.
Water Hardness
The typical level of hardness for the water coming into Clayton is 30 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Many people are concerned about the hardness of their water. Hard water requires more soap and synthetic detergents for home laundry and washing, and contributes to scaling in pipes, boilers and industrial equipment. Hardness is caused by compounds of calcium and magnesium, and by a variety of other metals.
General guidelines for classification of waters are:
- 0 to 60 mg/L of calcium carbonate is classified as soft
- 61 to 120 mg/L as moderately hard
- 121 to 180 mg/L as hard
- More than 180 mg/L as very hard
Locating Your Meter
Your water meter is generally located near the street in front of your home and is housed in a cast iron box, usually marked "water."
We advise you to avoid removing the lid, but if you must please use a screwdriver or tool. DO NOT handle the meter with your hands.
Be aware that the meter box is underground and often inhabited by spiders, other bugs, and snakes.
To read your meter, we STRONGLY encourage you to utilize the data portal available through Customer Service. This technology allows you to access the most accurate meter reading with ease.
Please call the Utilities and Billing Department at 919-553-5002 and the Town of Clayton can have someone come and read your meter or deal with any issues you may find.
Don't Cover the Meter Box
In searching for your meter box, you may discover that you are unable to locate it because it is covered by grass, rocks, vegetation, mulch, etc. It is very important to make sure that the meter box lid is uncovered and visible at all times. This will ensure accurate reads by the Town of Clayton for accurate billing.
Also, do not plant vegetation next to the meter. This will help to keep debris and roots from entering the meter box and possibly damaging the meter or the water line.
Mowing Habits
While maintaining your lawn, please be mindful of your water meters. When you mow over them, it can cause damage. Customers who damage their water meter are responsible for paying to fix or replace the meter.
Winterization
Call Clayton's Utility Services to shut off the water supply to your irrigation system during the winter months. One of Clayton's customer service meter technicians will take care of the issue and help you protect the irrigation system's main shut-off valve from freezing.
Below are a few other tips you can use to protect your irrigation system from harsh winter temperatures:
- Prevent your main shut-off valve from freezing by wrapping it with insulation (foam insulation tape and a plastic bag).
- If you do not have a main shut-off valve, you might consider installing one as a preventative investment.
- Any above-ground piping needs to be insulated. Self-sticking foam-insulating tape or foam insulating tubes commonly found at home supply stores are great options.
If you want to schedule a customer service technician to shut off your irrigation system's water supply, please call 919-359-9340.
Filling Swimming Pools
Call Utilities and Billing at 919-553-5002 first and get a meter reading before you start and after you finish. Then you can just use your tap. By calling ahead you can avoid being charged the typical sewer charges as well as the charge for the water used to fill the pool.