Washington Regional Office

943 Washington Square Mall, Washington, NC 27889

Phone: 252-946-6481
Fax: 252-975-3716

Water Quality Program Regional Supervisor: David May
Public Water Supply Section Supervisor: Jamie Midgette

The Washington Regional Office of the Division of Water Resources serves 21 counties in northeastern North Carolina. Regional operations span a range of topics related to protection of the groundwater and surface water resources our citizens rely upon.

Non-point and groundwater protection programs consist of the following: (1) Implement permitting and compliance for land applied wastewater, residuals and reclaimed water; (2) Permit construction of wells for groundwater monitoring and extracting/treating contaminated groundwater, as well as injection wells used for heating, cooling or remediation; and, (3) Perform planning on the interaction of groundwater, surface water and geological formations in order to characterize and anticipate groundwater contamination and potential threats to human health.

Water Quality Regional Operations programs permit animal feeding operations for swine, cattle, and poultry with wet wastewater systems. The program also permits construction of wells for groundwater monitoring and extracting/treating contaminated groundwater, as well as injection wells used for heating, cooling or remediation; and perform planning on the interaction of groundwater, surface water and geological formations in order to characterize and anticipate groundwater contamination and potential threats to human health.

Water Quality Permitting programs are responsible for permitting and compliance in accordance with the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program for wastewater that discharges directly to waters of the state. The program also implements permitting and compliance for land applied wastewater, residuals and reclaimed water. Also regulated by this branch are sewage collection systems, consisting of sewage lines, pump stations and other conveyances that carry waste to the treatment facility. The Pretreatment Program controls and documents the discharge of wastewater from Significant and Categorical Industrial Users to the Publicly Owned Treatment Works.The Wetlands and Stormwater Branch includes oversight of the state's Wetlands 401 Certification program and express permitting unit, stormwater permitting programs, transportation permitting, nonpoint source compliance and oversight, and wetlands and stormwater program development.

The Public Water Supply regional office staff work directly with public water supply system owners and operators to ensure the safety of drinking water in accordance with the requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and the North Carolina Drinking Water Act. These requirements are primarily specified in federal rules that North Carolina has adopted by reference. This is accomplished by providing technical and regulatory assistance and training, conducting sanitary surveys (inspections), reviewing and approving sample plans and reports and issuing notices of deficiency or violation.