Erwin has no town water department; Harnett County bought the water and sewer systems in 2006, so in-town homes are served by Harnett Regional Water and don't have their own pump. Homes elsewhere in the 28339 area may be on private wells, where lost water usually means the pump, switch or pressure tank. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Erwin.
Erwin's water is a county system
Erwin is a former cotton-mill town beside Dunn, with the Cape Fear River along its western edge. Since Harnett County bought the town's water and sewer utilities in 2006, service calls and billing go to Harnett Regional Water, whose plant in Lillington treats Cape Fear River water. The housing here is old: about 24% of homes were built in 1939 or earlier, and roughly two-thirds before 1980. In town, that age matters more than any pump. Outside the county system, some 28339 homes may be on private wells, though no count exists.
What to do now
- Know which system you're on. A Harnett Regional Water bill means no pump of your own; for a utility outage, call them.
- On a well, stop a runaway pump. If it runs constantly, turn off its breaker.
- Check the breaker once. A breaker that trips again right away usually means a motor or wiring fault.
- Read the gauge by the tank. Write down what it says and whether it moves when a tap opens.
- Look for leaks. Wet spots near the tank, in the crawl space or in the yard can explain a pump that won't stop.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Low pressure on county water | Corroded galvanized pipe, leak or valve on the owner's side |
| No water on a private well | Pump or motor failure, control box fault, dead pressure switch |
| Pump cycles every few seconds | Waterlogged tank or failed bladder |
| Pump runs but pressure stays low | Worn pump, leaking drop pipe or low water level |
| Rusty or cloudy water from a well | Sediment, corroding pipe or a casing problem; test the water too |
Cost factors
- Whether the fix is at the tank and controls or down in the well
- How deep the pump sits and what type it is
- Age of the tank, check valve and wiring on an older rural system
- Access to the wellhead and the space around the tank
- Permits: Erwin requires a town zoning permit first, then Harnett County Inspections handles the building permit
On a house this old, a plumber may also find that the indoor piping is part of the pressure problem, even when the pump is fine.
Well Pump Repair questions in Erwin
I'm on public water and my pressure dropped. Could a pump be the cause?
How can I tell if my house is on a private well or public water?
Does replacing a well pump need a permit, and who issues it?
The pump keeps running and won't shut off. What should I do?
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