MISI Score
43.0
Fragile
Project NC / Columbus County
DW · Columbus CountyPWSID NC7024024
MISI Score
43.0
Fragile
Score Confidence
0.8%
Peer Percentile
96.1th
As of
Apr 23, 2026
EXPLANATION
MARKET INTERPRETATION
Sandyfield is a smaller community water system, serving approximately 422 residents. The current reading places the system in a zone of moderate-to-elevated stress that goes beyond normal operating variation.
The score is being driven mainly by Operational Stress, which is at the top of its range in the model, with Revenue Fragility adding further pressure. In other words, Operational Stress is doing most of the heavy lifting in the headline score.
8 active stress signals are attached to this system, including 3 at high severity. That signal mix points to a system where several warning indicators are firing at once, not just one extreme outlier.
Within its peer cohort, this system ranks around the 96th percentile on measured stress, placing it near the top of peer-group stress.
Recent observations suggest the system has been relatively steady rather than sharply improving or deteriorating — the current picture looks more like persistent underlying pressure than a sudden shift.
This summary is based on structured, source-backed public data and is intended for research and monitoring only. It is not investment advice, a credit opinion, or municipal advisory guidance.
SCORE STACK
SL 2020-79
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
ACTIVE SIGNALS
Recurring monitoring or reporting failures often signal weak administrative capacity or deteriorating operational discipline.
Score impact: 4.0 · Family: Operational Stress
A shrinking served population weakens the customer base and raises infrastructure cost per customer.
Score impact: 10.0 · Family: Revenue Fragility
Weak unrestricted liquidity reduces the utility's ability to absorb rate, capex, or operating shocks.
Score impact: 2.0 · Family: Revenue Fragility
Repeated or serious compliance failures often indicate rising operational and infrastructure stress.
Score impact: 6.0 · Family: Operational Stress
Abrupt deterioration can indicate multiple compounding issues crossing thresholds together.
Score impact: 3.0 · Family: Governance Risk
Elevated drought and flood exposure raises outage, source-water, and infrastructure reliability stress.
Score impact: 6.0 · Family: Operational Stress
HISTORY
Latest
43.0
Trend
+43.0
Observations
20
NC TREASURER FBA
Days Cash on Hand
147
Days Cash As Of
Jun 30, 2024
Population Served
422
Active drought conditions stress source-water availability and treatment operations.
Score impact: 4.0 · Family: Operational Stress
Lead and copper exceedances and replacement obligations can drive near-term treatment and capital pressure.
Score impact: 8.0 · Family: Capex Pressure