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 Drought Deserves More Than Talk
by Tom Campbell
November 29, 2007
As fresh water supplies continue to dwindle you have to wonder how long our state’s leaders will sit and watch before taking action. Legislative leaders announced they are forming a study commission on the subject, with the intent of filing a report before the May short session convenes. Do they seriously believe we should wait until May before acting?
Our state’s drought is the worst in modern history and weather forecasters predict little good news ahead, anticipating lower than normal rainfall amounts over the winter months. You don’t have to be a prophet to predict what this means. Even if rainfall totals reach seasonal averages through the winter and spring, water reserves necessary for our farmers and for the hot, dry summer months next year will be stretched thin.
Voluntary conservation measures have been effective in reducing the amount of water being used, but not nearly as much as the Governor had hoped for. Even as the media continues to report worsening conditions citizens might lose interest, at least temporarily during the holidays and cooler days. A growing number of citizens say they are willing to do their part, but don’t believe industries, corporations, and especially construction companies are doing their part. It is hard to explain to a property owner why his or her lawn can’t be watered when the new home down the street is being regularly irrigated. Are we to understand that the lawn of a newly built home, often unoccupied, is more important than that of an established homeowner? It is equally fair to question those who are irrigating using private wells. As water supplies continue to dwindle, resistance to conservation will increase unless citizens believe all are sharing the conservation load.
It is time for Governor Easley to declare a state of water emergency in North Carolina, instituting mandatory water restrictions statewide. While some areas have more severe shortages than others, we are all in this together and must cooperate for the common good, not just our own geographic or individual interests. We must recognize fresh water is a precious resource, not an entitlement to be used however we desire. Any plan must consider growth from new construction or new industries that would place great demands on supplies in severely affected areas.
Our leaders have the ability to determine what water usage levels are necessary to preserve our scarce water resources into next summer. Coupled with records of current usage, they should be able to determine just how much additional reduction is needed to preserve our supplies.
Allen Williams, the Director of Water Resources for the City of Greensboro, said it best. "Until you poke people in the wallet, you're not going to get them to change their behavior and treat water as a scarce resource." So we must begin with a tiered pricing structure that charges more per gallon for those who use the most water and stiff fines for those who do not comply with restrictions.
There is no downside to declaring a state of emergency. Our citizens would not panic; rather they would be pleased to know our leaders are responding positively to this crisis. If forecasters are wrong and rains fall more plentifully than predicted, we will be even better prepared for our future and we will have learned some valuable lessons about how to treat water resources. |
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