Raleigh Water owns and operates the public water system in Knightdale, so homes in town have no well pump of their own. Out in the surrounding parts of eastern Wake, private wells are still common, and a dry tap there usually means the pump, the pressure switch or the tank. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Knightdale.
Knightdale's water, and the wells around it
Knightdale merged its water and sewer system with the City of Raleigh, and Raleigh Water now runs all public lines in town. Its water comes from Falls Lake and from Lake Benson in Garner. About 74% of Knightdale homes were built in 2000 or later, and those subdivisions were built on public water.
The countryside around town is different. A 2019 WUNC report put the number of eastern Wake homes believed to be on private wells at about 15,000, in an area where uranium, radon and radium occur naturally in the rock. The county estimates that roughly one in five sampled eastern Wake wells is affected. No Knightdale-only count exists, but if you're on a well out here, pump repairs and water testing go together.
Town water or well: what each problem usually means
| Problem | On Raleigh Water | On a private well |
|---|---|---|
| No water anywhere | Main break or shutoff; call Raleigh Water | Pump, switch, control box or tripped breaker |
| Weak pressure throughout | Pressure-reducing valve or a leak on the owner's line | Waterlogged tank, worn pump, low water level |
| Pressure pulses up and down | Failing pressure-reducing valve | Short cycling from a tank that lost its air |
| Meter or pump runs with taps off | Hidden leak on the private side | Leak in the house, yard line or drop pipe |
| Water looks or tastes different | Check the utility's notices | Have the well tested before assuming it's mechanical |
Signs of a failing well system
- The house goes dry with power still on
- A clicking switch every time a faucet opens
- The pump's breaker trips repeatedly
- Sputtering, air or sediment in the water
- The pump keeps running long after everyone is done with water
Timing and the seasons
Most failures show up when demand is highest, which in eastern Wake means hot, dry summer weeks with sprinklers and gardens running. Spring and summer storms are the other trigger; surges can take out a control box or motor. In winter, unheated pump houses and exposed piping need insulation or a heat source.
On Raleigh Water, the city maintains the line up to the property line and the owner is responsible from there to the house. Building and plumbing inspections in Knightdale are done by Wake County Permits and Inspections on the town's behalf.
Well Pump Repair questions in Knightdale
Should I worry about uranium or radon in an eastern Wake well?
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?
What does the pressure tank do, and how does it fail?
More plumbing services in Knightdale
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