Water Use Rules in Johnston County, NC (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Johnston County, North Carolina.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Johnston County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Recycled Water Rules

Johnston County runs a separate reclaimed water system under Chapter 24, Article IV of its Code of Ordinances. Property owners may connect once reclaimed water reaches their site by applying through the utilities director, but any use beyond irrigation needs prior director approval. Misusing reclaimed water is both a civil offense with escalating fines and a class 3 misdemeanor.

Johnston County Reclaimed Water Rules

Some Restrictions

Johnston County Code §§ 24-278, 24-280

Once reclaimed water is available to property, the property owner may connect to the reclaimed water system upon submission of a fully executed application as required by the director, and upon compliance with all other county requirements. Reclaimed water may be used for irrigation purposes and for other nonpotable water purposes in accordance with federal, state and local ordinances, rules an...

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Leak Reporting Duty

Johnston County classifies an unrepaired water leak as 'waste of water' under County Code § 24-72, and County Code § 24-73 bans using county water in violation of the water conservation ordinance. A customer who lets a controllable leak from defective plumbing go unfixed after a written warning faces water-bill penalties starting at $100.00 and can lose service.

Johnston County Water Leak Repair Duty

Some Restrictions

Johnston County Code §§ 24-72, 24-73

Waste of water means, but is not limited to, the failure to repair a controllable leak of water due to defective plumbing or deliberate nonessential use of water. ... (a) The direct or indirect use of water from the JCDPU distribution system in violation of this division or any water restriction policy adopted from time to time by the Board of Commissioners is prohibited. Any customer that vi...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Johnston County ordinances

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