The Public Works Department provides essential water service and maintenance of Town roads.
The Town’s water supply is provided from 6 wells that are pumped into 3 storage tanks, two tanks hold 70,000 gallons and one tank holds 30,000 gallons. The Town’s water distribution system consists of approximately 20 miles of waterline to 550+ meter locations. Recent upgrades include radio read meters for efficiency and accuracy of consumption and billing, including the ability to data log. Public Works strives hard to keep water loss at a minimum of 15%, when compared to surrounding mountain towns.
Annual Consumer Confidence Report – CCR Report.
In North Carolina, three categories of roads exist: Town roads, NC State Maintained, or private.
Public Works maintains approximately 16 miles of Town roads, year round.
In the winter months, roads are plowed during snowfall and chat is used to provide traction. A full sweep of the Town takes about 4 hours, so please be patient, if there is snow, plowing is occurring somewhere. A flashing sign at the base of the mountain warns vehicles of conditions requiring chains, 4WD or AWD and violations are issued by the Police Department.
In the spring & summer months, pothole repair, repaving and culvert cleanout maintenance happens, as well as mowing right of ways. Public Works schedules 3 annual debris pick up dates for limbs & clippings by residents, with notice and deadlines posted on the website.
NCDOT Seven Devils Road to Skyland Drive and ending at Hawksnest Tubing & Zipline is maintained by NCDOT, for all winter conditions or repairs. The Town does not have control over the schedule or maintenance of this road. Please use caution or stay off the roads whenever warnings are issued by Emergency Management Watauga County, NC or National Weather Service 7-Day Forecast 36.16N 81.8W (weather.gov)
Due to the steep grade and narrow roads, all trucks with long or wide beds must call for an escort up the mountain. Seven Devils Non-emergency police #828-963-6760
All private roads within the Town limits are the sole responsibility of owners at those locations.
Subscribe to the Town’s website for updates including inclement weather conditions or water outages.
