City Services

The City of Morganton provides municipal water, sanitary sewer, electric and cable television and high-speed Internet services. Natural gas is available through Piedmont Natural Gas Company. Local landline and wireless telephone service is available through various providers.

The city's water system uses the Catawba River as its source with a total finished water capacity of 18 million gallons per day ("MGD"). Present peak demand requirements are slightly in excess of 10 MGD. Approximately 70% of the capacity is available for industry use.

The Catawba River Water Filtration Plant utilizes high-rate mixed-bed filtration and to ensure uninterrupted service, with or without paid power, the facility has a standby generator.

The water system has a clear well capacity of 5 million gallons and elevated storage capacity of 3.3 million gallons and serves approximately 9,150 customers. Among its water customers are two municipalities and two rural water corporations. The total population served is approximately 23,000.

Sanitary Sewer System

The City's wastewater treatment plant incorporates the principle of pure oxygen treatment and has a present capacity of 10.5 MGD. Current average daily flow is 3.4 MGD. Wastewater solids are composted using the aerated static pile method, then screened and sold to the public. The City's sanitary sewer system serves approximately 6,200 industrial and domestic customers and an overall population of approximately 17,300.

Electrical Distribution System

The municipally owned electrical distribution system services Morganton and certain areas up to five miles outside of the city limits. Electric power is purchased from North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1, a joint agency of the State created under G.S. Chapter 159B (the "Power Agency"), and distributed to approximately 8,000 customers.

In 2007, the City was recognized by the American Public Power Association as a "Reliable Public Power Provider." Achieving certification as a Reliable Public Power Provider involved extensive review of Morganton's electrical system including reliability, safety, training and system betterment. Morganton is one of 20 communities in North Carolina that were certified as Reliable Public Power Providers and the certification remains two years

The City and 18 other State municipalities are members ("Participants") of the Power Agency, a joint agency of the State created under Chapter 159B of the general statutes of North Carolina, as amended, which owns a 75% undivided ownership interest in the 1,145 megawatt Unit 2, and a 37.5% undivided ownership interest in certain support facilities of the Catawba Nuclear Station (the "Project"), in York County, South Carolina. In addition, the Power Agency has entered into certain agreements (the "Project Agreements") with Duke Power Company ("Duke"), a co-owner of the Project, for the continued operation of the Project by Duke, for interconnection of the Project with the Duke electric system and certain other service by Duke to the Power Agency.

CoMPAS Cable TV
(City of Morganton Public Antenna System)

In 1993, the City completed the construction of a state-of-the-art, fiber optic, cable television delivery system, which is owned and operated by the City.

The city-owned and operated cable TV system, CoMPAS (City of Morganton Public Antenna System), passes over 7,300 homes with over 140 miles of aerial and underground cable plant, providing service to 5,800 subscribers. Following the completion of a major rebuild and upgrade to be completed in late fall of 2003, the system will offer 77 basic channels with more that 240 channels available through a variety of digital, Video-on-demand, Pay-per-view and High Definition choices. High speed Internet access will be available in spring of 2004.

In May of 2003, the city council approved $7,325,000 in installment debt under G.S. 160A-20 to finance the reconstruction and rebuilding of the City of Morganton owned and operated cable television system (CoMPAS). This reconstruction is currently underway with digital service beginning in late 2003 and Video-on-demand and high speed Internet access in spring of 2004.

Police and Fire Protection

The City's police and fire services are administered under the public safety concept. There are currently 70 full time officer positions, 16 fire engineer positions, and 16 full-time civilian positions. These are compliment by 28 part-time positions.

Solid Waste Collection

City residents enjoy the convenience of backyard solid waste collection and curbside collection of rough trash and yard waste. The waste is deposited at the County-owned transfer station operated by GDS.

Recycling: The city offers a recycling station at Shuey Field off Golf Course Road. The collection stations accept corrugated cardboard, glass bottles and jars, mixed paper, newspapers, plastic milk and soda bottles, and metal cans.