Gray’s Creek Water Project

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Construction Phase

Construction starts in November and continues through 2026 on the Gray’s Creek Water Project. Work will involve excavation and utility installation along public rights-of-way. Special drilling equipment will be used to bore underneath streets/roadways and avoid open cuts across roads and eliminate the need to close a road or impact traffic.

Crews will clear easements and rights-of-way, set up temporary fencing, and create staging areas. If plants/shrubs need to be moved, contractors may set them aside by request—residents are responsible for relocating and maintaining them. Disturbed grass will be replaced after final construction.

Properties in green on the map (link included above) will not have their driveways dug up. Properties in red on the map are the locations where crews will need to dig up or excavate a portion of a property’s driveway during construction.

• Access to a driveway will be available at the end of each day while construction is taking place at the property.
• Following construction, temporary restorations will be in place at the site. Permanent restoration using the same type of materials as the rest of the driveway will happen later as part of this project (for example: gravel driveways will have gravel replacement, concrete driveways will have concrete replacement, and asphalt driveways will have asphalt patches in areas that are disturbed).

Properties owners along the construction route were notified in early November of 2025 of the construction via a letter.

• Copy of the letter to property owners where driveways will be impacted
• Copy of the letter to property owners where driveways will not be impacted

Work hours for construction will be Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Roads remain open to local traffic and there will be no lane closures or driveway restrictions on School Road and Alderman Road during school drop off/pickup times:

• School Road:
  • 8–8:30 a.m.
  • 3–3:30 p.m.
• Alderman Road:
  • 7–7:30 a.m.
  • 1:45–2:30 p.m.

Residents are asked to reduce speed in construction zones and keep children/pets away from equipment and work areas.

About the Gray’s Creek Water Project

PWC and the County will work 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 up stream of the source of contamination of GenX in the groundwater for the Gray’s Creek Community. The U.S. E.P.A. recently 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.

This information is subject to change.