Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26, 2024, and quickly became one of the most destructive storms to hit the US mainland in the 21st century. In North Carolina, one of the worst-hit states, over 100 people died and thousands of homes were destroyed. At the end of 2024, the state government estimated that the storm had caused roughly $60 billion in damages, and some of the most long-lasting and impactful damage was to utilities infrastructure – everything from wastewater treatment plants, to sewer and water systems, to power lines and telecommunications infrastructure was damaged or destroyed by the powerful mudslides and flooding. Over a year later, the state’s essential infrastructure systems – and by extension, the boards that manage them – are facing long-term challenges.

One major problem that predates the hurricane is the issue of aging infrastructure. Many utilities systems are decades old and in need of extensive (and expensive) repairs. Many utilities are also struggling to address pollution. Once scientists discovered that many of North Carolina’s water systems were contaminated with PFAS, a dangerous “forever chemical” that is linked to a range of health problems, utilities became responsible for keeping those contaminants out of household water supplies. The extensive damage from Hurricane Helene has made it even harder to address these issues. Utilities are mostly funded through the rates their customers pay, and for many, the costs of addressing these issues are too high to be covered through rates alone. With prices rising and affordability becoming a top concern for households across the country, keeping rates affordable while maintaining essential infrastructure is an increasingly difficult balance.

Earlier this year, the Governor of North Carolina announced over $200 million in funding for water and sewer infrastructure projects across the state. Local boards have an important role to play in managing these funds – prioritizing the most necessary repairs, maintaining systems going forward, managing pollution to keep customers safe, and keeping utilities affordable for the communities they serve.

Sources: North Carolina Health News; American Water Works Association; WLOS ABC 13 News; the North Carolina Office of State Management and Budget; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Term limits: none; terms are usually four years, but can vary by district

Eligibility: to run for any office in North Carolina, you must be at least 21 years old and eligible to vote in the state

There are 49 utility districts in North Carolina, representing the areas served by the various local water, sewer, and sanitation systems. Each district is governed by a Board, and some districts elect Board members directly. The number of members varies – most Boards have between five and nine. Board members are usually called Commissioners or Trustees, and are unpaid. Their main powers and responsibilities are:

• Overseeing the daily operations of the utility system
  Including personnel policies like employee pay and benefits, safety rules, emergency preparedness plans, and more
• Deciding policy for the utility system
  Utility operations impact environmental and conservation issues, energy policy, air and water quality, land use, disaster response, and more
• Setting rates for customers
• Setting the budget and overseeing the system’s finances
• Capital planning
  A capital budget is a separate budget for big one-time projects, like major repairs or infrastructure improvements. Boards oversee long-term planning for these projects, and usually have the power to take on debt to pay for them

Sources: the North Carolina Constitution, Article VI; the North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 162A; State Treasurer of North Carolina; Orange Water and Sewer Authority; South Granville Water and Sewer Authority