Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area (CCPCUA) Water Withdrawal Permit
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Upper Cape Fear Aquifer | Black Creek Aquifer |
Groundwater levels have shown improvements after the Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority start-up in Fall 2008. More recent changes near Jacksonville, Onslow County and Cove City, Craven County are associated with use of their new Castle Hayne aquifer well fields starting in 2010 by Jacksonville and New Bern, respectively. All alternative water supplies help to improve the overuse problem.
Legend
Introduction
The Environmental Management Commission has designated the 15 highlighted counties shown on the map to the left as the Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area and approved the CCPCUA rules which create a groundwater use permitting process. The CCPCUA rules became effective August 1, 2002.
- Permits are required for groundwater users of more than 100,000 gallons per day.
- Annual registration and reporting of withdrawals is required for surface and groundwater users of more than 10,000 gallons per day.
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Flow chart of CUA permitting process
Rule Re-adoption of 15A NCAC 02E
Environmental Management Commission readopted 15A NCAC 02E .0500 CCPCUA rules as of January 1, 2022. Link to the readopted 15A NCAC 02E rules.
Background Information
December 1968 to August 1, 2002
November 1998
- The
CCP Capacity Use Investigation Report
of November 1998 is available as a pdf file.
- Check out the groundwater strategy for the CCP (1998-2000).
- The most recent CCPCUA fact sheet is available here.
February 28, 2001
- The CCPCUA rules were initially approved by the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) at their December 14, 2000 meeting. The November 2000 Hearing Officers' Report includes the December 14, 2000 rules. The CCPCUA rules were on the agenda for the Rules Review Commission (RRC) February 28, 2001 meeting where all rules were approved except 15A NCAC .0502.
April 12, 2001
- The EMC approved this revised version of the CCPCUA rules on April 12, 2001 (with highlighted revisions from the December 2000 version). On April 19, 2001 the RRC approved revisions to .0502 made by the EMC, but after hearing objections to the rules from a representative of the NC Aggregates Association, they raised one new objection to ambiguous language in .0502(k).
May 10, 2001
- The EMC approved this revised version of the CCPCUA rules on May 10, 2001 (with highlighted revisions from the April 2001 version). This latest version was approved by the RRC on May 17, 2001.
August 1, 2002
- These are the Approved CCPCUA Rules and associated map.
- Rules became effective August 1, 2002.
- Here is an interesting quote and information we have on land subsidence.
May 2021
- Notice of Public Hearing for Rules Re-adoption of 15A NCAC 02E (Water Use Registration and Allocation):
Notice is hereby given in accordance with G.S. 150B-21.3A(c)(2)g. that the Environmental Management Commission intends to readopt with substantive changes the rules cited as 15A NCAC 02E .0301, .0501, .0502, .0504, .0505, .0507, .0602, .0603, .0605-.0615, readopt without substantive changes the rules cited as 15A NCAC 02E .0106, .0107, .0601, .0604, and repeal through readoption the rules cited as 15A NCAC 02E .0503 and .0506.. Virtual Public Hearing Date: May 20, 2021, Time: 6:00pm
Link to Notice of Public Hearing and 15A NCAC 02E Rules
November 18, 2021
- The EMC approved revisions based on public comment from the Public Hearing. Link: Hearing Officer Report for 15A NCAC 02E Rule Re-adoption - 2021
January 1, 2022
- Re-adopted rules become effective on January 1, 2022. Link: 15A NCAC 02E Re-adopted Rules - 2022
Permit Application and Reporting Forms
Permit applications are due for groundwater users of more than 100,000 gallons per day. On-line application is available.
- Permit Application Form (pdf)
- Permit Application Form Table III Sheet (pdf)
- Permit Application Form Reduction Worksheet (pdf)
Before a permit is issued or denied, quarterly reporting of daily water use and monthly water levels must start with the quarter ending in September 2002. Reports are due by 30 days after the end of each quarter. Under permit, monthly reporting will usually be required. On-line reporting is available.
10,000 GPD Water Use Registration Form
Annual registration and withdrawal reporting forms are due for both surface and groundwater users of more than 10,000 gallons per day.
The CCPCUA Rules and Water Use Act
Permit applications are due for groundwater users of more than 100,000 gallons per day. On-line application is available.
- CCPCUA Rules (pdf)
- Water Use Act of 1967 (pdf -- includes changes listed below)
Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area Public Notices
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Sort using: date, county, permit
Miscellaneous Information
- If you have any questions or comments contact [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected].
- The presentation of the CCPCUA 2019 Status Report to the EMC Water Allocation Committee is available for download (2.9 mb pdf).
- The Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area 2019 Status Report is available for download (4.8 mb pdf).
- The presentation of the 2018 CCPCUA Assessment to the EMC on October 10, 2018 is available for download (29.4 mb pdf).
- The presentation of the 2018 CCPCUA Assessment to the EMC Water Allocation Committee is available for download (22.2 mb pdf).
- The 2018 Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area Assessment Report is available for download (4.5 mb pdf).
- The presentation of the CCPCUA 2018 Assessment Plan to the EMC Water Allocation Committee is available for download (1.2 mb pdf).
- The presentation of the CCPCUA 2014 Status Report to the EMC Water Allocation Committee is available for download (2.9 mb pdf).
- The Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area 2014 Status Report is available for download (4.3 mb pdf).
- The UNC Environmental Finance Center NC Water and Wastewater Rates Dashboard allows comparison of water and wastewater rates between different utilities and state averages.
- The 2013 CCPCUA Assessment Report Summary is available for download (516 kb pdf).
- The 2013 CCPCUA Assessment Report is available for download (10.7 mb pdf).
- The November 2013 presentation to the EMC Water Allocation Committee about the the assessment report is available for download (5.4 mb pdf).
- The Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area 2009 Status Report is available for download (11.3 mb pdf).
- The 2008 Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area Assessment Report is available for download (2.1 mb pdf).
- Status of alternative water supply development in the CCPCUA as of July 30, 2019 (pdf).
- The Cretaceous Water Bank Guidance Document is available for download (pdf).
- The Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area 2004 Status Report is available for download (6.9 mb pdf).
- You may download the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 Department of Agriculture's North Carolina Agricultural Water Use report which is available as a PDF file.
- You may download the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005-06, 2007 Department of Agriculture's Central Coastal Plain Water Use Study which are available as PDF files.
- You may download the zipped, GIS shape files of the Cretaceous aquifer zones (units are state-plane meters).
- You may access our hydrogeologic database and other groundwater data on-line.
Query the Capacity Use Area Databases
These databases are "works-in-progress" and are made available to the general public after best efforts to screen out errors -- but we may have missed a few. We encourage everyone who uses this data to help us check for mistakes or omissions.