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“Water Supply Challenges for the Future”

“Water Supply Challenges for the Future”. Tom Reeder Director, Division of Water Resources for NC DENR. July 14, 2011. Primary Challenge in North Carolina. Meeting growing demands with available resources Increased Water Efficiency Drought Management Ecological Flows

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“Water Supply Challenges for the Future”

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  1. “Water Supply Challenges for the Future” Tom Reeder Director, Division of Water Resources for NC DENR July 14, 2011

  2. Primary Challenge in North Carolina Meeting growing demands with available resources • Increased Water Efficiency • Drought Management • Ecological Flows • Regionalization vs. Interbasin Transfers (IBT) • Increased Storage

  3. Increased Water Efficiency • Enhanced water efficiency can delay the need for new water supplies / sources • Some common efficiency measures: • Fix leaking systems / meter all usage • Sustainable landscaping • Correct pricing of water • Plumbing fixture retrofits / rebates • Increased efficiency in new development • Use of reclaimed water

  4. Water Efficiency Measures • Fix leaking systems / meter all usage • Water audit and leak detection programs • Some systems in NC have 40% unaccounted water • Sustainable landscaping • 30% residential water use for irrigation • Separate irrigation meters for in-ground systems • Drought resistant plants • Highly efficient irrigation systems /rain sensors • Example municipality: Cary, NC

  5. Water Efficiency Measures • Correct Pricing of Water • Price water to cover cost of operations and maintenance • No rebates for increasing use • Higher cost encourages greater conservation • Plumbing Fixture Retrofits / Rebates • Require new owners of commercial buildings to retrofit with more efficient fixtures • Provide rebates to homeowners that replace existing fixtures w/ more efficient models

  6. Water Efficiency Measures • Increased efficiency in new development • Require efficient fixtures in all new buildings • Capture & reuse of stormwater • Dual plumbing for grey water use • Use of reclaimed water • For non-potable purposes • Downside to enhanced efficiency • Reduces revenues of water system • Reduces drought response options

  7. Drought Management • Continuing issue in NC • Level of severity varies year-to-year • Drought planning is a constant • Ways to make systems more resistant to drought: • Adopted drought response protocols • Regionalization • Interconnections • Increase water efficiency • Increase water storage capacity

  8. Ecological Flows • Quantity of water necessary in stream to protect aquatic life (plant & animal) • Clean Water Act requires consideration of impacts to aquatic ecosystems • SL 2010-143 mandates ecological flow determination for all NC river basins • To be included in DWR’s hydrologic models • Could potentially limit the amount of water available for off-stream uses • Science advisory board to develop methodology

  9. Regionalization • Positive aspects of regionalization: • Assists underperforming water systems • Pooling of assets for modernization / upkeep • Greater access to limited water resources • Increased efficiency / customer service • Drought proofing through interconnections • Regionalization Success Stories: • Hickory / Neuse Regional WASA / Raleigh / CMUD / Salisbury / Onslow WASA

  10. Interbasin Transfer (IBT) Program • Program enacted to ensure that transfer of water is good public policy • Requires certificate for transfer of surface water between basins > 2,000,000 gallons/day • Extremely stringent process • Viewed by some as challenge to regionalization

  11. Increased Storage • More storage to increase resilience • Types of Storage: • Reservoirs • Off-line Storage • Innovative Solutions

  12. Reservoirs • Dam and impoundment on mainstem • Potential long term solution for larger systems • Expensive • Very time consuming from start to finish • Federal and State Permitting Challenges • HB 609 addresses State permitting process • Competition for limited suitable locations

  13. Off Line Storage • Off-stream storage impoundment • Utilization of abandoned quarries • Practical solution as a supplement to existing supplies or for small demands • Less expensive / quicker & easier to construct • Easier to permit • Less storage capacity than mainstem reservoir

  14. Innovative Solutions • Aquifer Storage & Recovery (ASR) in Greenville • Treated Tar River water injected into aquifer for use during periods of high demand • 1st of its kind in North Carolina • Became operational in Feb 2011 • 76 million gallons have been injected to date • 8 million gallons have been recovered for use

  15. Contact Information Tom Reeder Director, NC Division of Water Resources 919-715-3045 tom.reeder@ncdenr.gov

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