Agenda - 01-31-1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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571-4jWeltf f /__ J • How Will Interbasin Transfer Affect Our State? By A. T. Rolan Presented at the_70th Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Section of the American Water Works Association and the North Carolina Water Pollution Control Association November 11 -14, 1990 High Point, North Carolina It is interesting that this paper is being presented as a part of the wastewater section of our convention. However, it is appropriate when you consider that many interbasin transfers occur as the result of discharges of wastewater and not as a result of the withdrawal of drinking water. Currently there is no comprehensive law in North Carolina on water rights. The state law presently relies primary on the riparian rights theory which basically guarantees the downstream users of water that their supply should not be impacted by reductions in either quality or quantity. Historically, North Carolina has developed along transportation routes. From the Indians to modern times, these routes have typically run ridge lines because they represent-the best available route, with the least number of changes in grade and the resultant ease of travel. Because of this phenomenon many of our cities in North Carolina have grown up on these ridge lines and as a result, many of these cities are involved in interbasin transfers. In 1989, the State Legislature attempted to enact a Bill to regulate interbasin transfers. Ultimately, the Legislature passed a one year moratorium with exemptions.for almost every possible existing transfer and permitted discharge but did not allow any new transfers during the one year moratorium. Last week, the Legislative Study Commission on surface water passed a draft bill which could be considered by "the full Legislature in 1991, that is similar to but more restrictive than the Bill proposed last year. • The American Water Works Association adopted in 1975 and. revised in 1982 a policy on Water Resources. The following - statement is included as a part of that policy. "The majority of water crisis may be traced to insufficient and delayed action rather than actual shortages of usable water.