Tryon among 17 N.C. water systems near crisis point

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The number of North Carolina water systems that are near a crisis-level shortage has nearly tripled in recent days, the state's top drought expert said Tuesday.

Seventeen water systems serving hundreds of thousands of residents have regular water supplies of less than 100 days given current conditions, according to a report presented to the State Water Infrastructure Commission.

Those 17 "Tier 1" water systems are Raleigh, Durham, Rocky Mount, Cleveland County (covers northern part of county), Monroe, Boone, Marshall, Siler City, Blowing Rock, Yadkinville, Bryson City, Tryon, Spruce Pine, Mars Hill, Robbinsville, Bessemer City and Woodfin.

There were only six about a week ago, said Woody Yonts, chairman of the Drought Management Advisory Council. Another 80 of the state's 604 local water systems are vulnerable or being closely monitored by state officials, Yonts said.

"We're in a situation that we've never seen the likes of here," Yonts said. "What we're trying to do is ... recognize where we are, and be smart and use a lot of good, common sense."

North Carolina is in the throes of a drought that was exacerbated by record high temperatures that evaporated lakes and reservoirs in the summer and early fall. Climate and weather experts have projected the drought could worsen with a winter expected to be drier and warmer than normal.

All 100 North Carolina counties are classified by the U.S. Drought Monitor as being in a drought, with 71 in "exceptional drought," the federal government's highest classification, as of last week.

Severe water restrictions that have kept homeowners from traditional fall lawn reseedings and caused some restaurants to use paper and plastic instead of regular dishes that need to be washed. Gov. Mike Easley, attempting to get a handle on the public's ability to conserve water, urged North Carolina residents to cut their water use by 50 percent between now and Halloween.

During the 2002 drought, more than 30 systems were identified as having less than a 100-day supply, Yonts told the panel. But the arid conditions didn't cover the entire state, and the situation didn't worsen so dramatically over as short a period.

Data from state environmental regulators show 126 water systems serving 3.5 million people are under mandatory restrictions of some kind to conserve water — nearly all due to the drought.

"The drought is supposed to be slow moving. But it's not in this case," he said.

The so-called "Tier 1" designation for the 17 systems nearing a crisis doesn't mean all the systems will go dry in a few months, Yonts said.

But local governments are scrambling to find alternate water sources for their residents, whether by tapping unused reservoirs, or by agreeing to buy water from neighboring communities and building connections to tap the supply.

The town of Bessemer City, which already is purchasing water from nearby Kings Mountain, may have to buy more from Gastonia. Siler City, the only town in an official water shortage emergency, may look to Sanford for help, Yonts said.

Members of the State Water Infrastructure Commission, comprised of state regulators, local government representatives and engineers, said they hoped the drought would be an opportunity to highlight ways to keep communities off the list in future dry spells.

Commissioners, in making their annual recommendations to state officials, want them to consider expanding the use of treated wastewater for commercial use instead of pumping it downstream. State officials also should examine whether to help distressed regions by shifting water within a river basin.

"There are 4 million more people coming into the state in the next 20 years," said Richard Rogers, executive director of the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund and a panelist. "We're headed for a train wreck, and it's going to be an incredible impact on the economy, the quality of life and everything."