Gray’s Creek Water Project
Project Details
- Design Start: September 2024
- Design Completion: 2025
- Construction Start: November 2025
- Construction Completion: 2026
- Engineer Design Firm: W.K. Dickson & Company, Inc.
- Construction Firm: T.A. Loving
Project Communications
- Grays Creek Water Project Map (updated 11/2025)
- Letter to property owners whose driveway is impacted by the construction
- Letter to property owners whose driveway is not impacted by the construction
PWC Celebrates Completion of Gray’s Creek Water Project
August 18, 2026
PWC was honored to welcome North Carolina State Senator Tom McInnis and North Carolina State Representative Diane Wheatley to Alderman Road Elementary School on Friday, August 14, 2026, to celebrate the successful completion of the Gray’s Creek Water Main Extension Project, connecting Alderman Road Elementary School and Gray’s Creek Elementary School to PWC’s award winning public water system and recognizing the transformative impact of the State’s investment in the community.
The visit highlighted the project’s significance to Gray’s Creek residents, students, and businesses while recognizing the North Carolina General Assembly’s commitment to expanding access to safe, reliable, regulated drinking water. Through a partnership between Fayetteville PWC and Cumberland County, the General Assembly provided $12 million in state funding to design and construct the initial phase of the project.
The completed project extends PWC’s public water system to Gray’s Creek Elementary School, Alderman Road Elementary School, and surrounding areas, providing customers with drinking water that meets or exceeds state and federal water quality standards. The new infrastructure represents a long-term investment in public health, environmental stewardship, and the continued growth of the Gray’s Creek community.
“This project represents far more than the installation of new water lines, it reflects our shared commitment to protecting public health, investing in critical infrastructure, and improving the quality of life for the Gray’s Creek community,” said Timothy Bryant, CEO/General Manager of Fayetteville PWC.
“Simply put, this community deserves quality drinking water, and I am proud of the work PWC did to get the two schools connected. This is about our students, our teachers, and our support staff members’ safety and well-being. I am looking forward to coming back and seeing more of the Gray’s Creek community connected to PWC’s water system, exactly what a thriving community needs.” said State Senator Tim McInnis
Originally announced in 2024, the partnership between PWC and Cumberland County was established to provide a long-term public water solution for residents affected by Gen X contamination in private wells while ensuring area schools and future customers have access to high-quality drinking water. Construction began in late 2025 and has now been successfully completed.
“We appreciate the partnership of Fayetteville PWC, our state leaders and everyone who helped make this important project possible for our schools and community,” said Dr. Eric C. Bracy, superintendent of Cumberland County Schools (CCS).
The Gray’s Creek Water Main Extension Project demonstrates what can be accomplished through collaboration among local and state leaders committed to investing in infrastructure that serves both current and future generations.
“Being able to get the funding to bring clean drinking water to the students and school staff in Grey’s Creek is one of the accomplishments that I am most proud of. I will continue to work to bring clean water to all our communities. Thank you to Fayetteville PWC and Cumberland County Schools for this important partnership.” said State Representative Diane Wheatley
PWC remains committed to delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable utility services while supporting the continued growth and well-being of Cumberland County. As an award-winning utility and long-time participant in the Partnership for Safe Water, PWC continues to invest in infrastructure that protects public health and provides customers with exceptional drinking water quality.
About the Gray’s Creek Water Project
Construction on the Gray’s Creek Water Project started in November 2025 and continued through 2026. Work involved excavation and utility installation along public rights-of-way. Special drilling equipment was used to bore underneath streets/roadways to avoid open cuts across roads and eliminate the need to close a road or impact traffic. Crews cleared easements and rights-of-way, set up temporary fencing, and created staging areas.
PWC and the County worked together to plan for, seek funding for, develop a schedule, and implement the installation of water system infrastructure to service the Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District. The initial phase includes the Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District. The goal is to get water that meets State and Federal regulations to the schools as soon as possible. Once installed, PWC will provide quality drinking water in keeping with the high standards set by the Partnership for Safe Water and all other requirements set by EPA.
The North Carolina General Assembly has appropriated $12 million to PWC to design and build water to the Gray’s Creek and Alderman Road Elementary Schools in the Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District. The County plans to utilize American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help extend the water system to other areas within the Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District and will work with residents within the district to find funding for connection fees.
Because Cumberland County is sharing responsibility of this project, this should have no impact on existing customers.
The PWC water intake point is upstream of the source of contamination of GenX in the groundwater for the Gray’s Creek Community. In 2024, the U.S. E.P.A. announced new drinking water standards to address PFAS. PWC is currently upgrading its two drinking water treatment facilities to add Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtration that will enable PWC to continue providing drinking water that meets or exceeds E.P.A. standards.
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