Water Supply

Ensuring adequate and clean drinking water is vital to our community. As Wake County's population doubles to a projected 1.5 million by 2025, water supply may not be sufficient if current use and climate patterns continue. Future water supply plans for Raleigh's Public Utility system*, while increasing supply capacity, could fall short of needs, especially during times of drought. Planning for the future, balancing growth with water limits and implementing stronger water conservation measures are critical. Future water supply should be paid for in a way that is fair to current taxpayers. Strong and cooperative leadership at the city and county levels is needed to keep our water flowing.

North Carolina is the only state in the country where every part of the state is in a designated Drought condition. Until August ‘07 North Carolina had been spared the worst effects of Southeastern US drought conditions centered on Alabama and spreading into neighboring states, notably Georgia. As of last week, every part of North Carolina was designated as either D2 Drought, Severe, D3 Drought , Extreme or D4 Drought, Exceptional by the USDA Drought Monitor. No part of North Carolina met the criteria for D1 Drought, Moderate. Last week 46% of the state was found to be in D4 Exceptional Drought conditions, a slight decrease from 49% the previous week. Every other state in the country has at least some area designated D0 Abnormally Dry or better. Even if you’ve been living under a rock and have missed the media attention you can’t have failed to notice the drying earth beneath you.

I'm here at the McKimmon Center with about 300 people attending the WakeUp Wake County Water Forum. Among the attendees are numerous concerned citizens, experts, elected officials, hopeful candidates and a lot of media. We're on a break between sessions. Lots of questions from the audience. The forum runs until 12pm so come on over if you're close by.

Early session:

Who provides water in Wake County, where does it come from?
Tommy Esqueada, Director, Wake County Environmental Services
Climate change and water availability.
Rob Jackson, Director, Duke University Center on Global Change
Environmental considerations of water use:
Chris Goudreau, Special Projects Coordinator, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

The Neuse River was named as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2007.