State Water Efficiency Legislation in North and South Carolina

American Rivers is working in targeted states on water supply legislation that will protect the drinking water supply of our communities and the rivers that provide recreational, economic, and quality of life benefits in the face of climate change and population growth.

North Carolina and South Carolina have been suffering from a series of extreme droughts that have brought the issues of a secure clean water supply to the forefront.  The two states have also seen a boom in population growth and many major urban areas are located either on smaller rivers or in the headwaters of larger river basins.  The two states have also been litigating against each other about water use, primarily focused on a water transfer in North Carolina from the Catwaba-Wateree River basin to the Yadkin-Pee Dee River basin.  

American Rivers is working to ensure each state enacts a comprehensive water allocation law that registers all major water users (withdrawing more that 50,000 gallons per day, gpd), requires permits for those water users withdrawing more than 100,000 gpd, requires a planning mechanism based on major river basins, and assures that enough clean water is left in our rivers to support healthy communities.