NC H488

Automatically transfers ownership and operation of municipal public water systems serving more than 120,000 people to existing metropolitan sewerage districts in their counties, creating Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Districts by operation of law effective May 15, 2013.

Transfers interconnected public sewer systems operated by state subdivisions and existing metropolitan sewerage district assets to the new Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Districts.

Establishes governance structure with district board members appointed by county boards of commissioners, municipalities over 75,000 population, counties over 200,000 population, and other eligible entities in defined proportions.

Grants Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Districts powers of both Metropolitan Water Districts and Metropolitan Sewer Districts, including authority to issue bonds, set rates and charges without state regulation, acquire property, and enforce ordinances with civil penalties up to $1,000.

Prohibits privatization of water and sewer services except for administrative matters, and requires Environmental Management Commission to receive supporting resolutions from all affected political subdivisions before creating new metropolitan sewerage districts on or after April 1, 2013.