The Spring Lake commissioners said Monday they do not want the Town of Fuquay-Varina to take water from the Cape Fear River Basin and move it to the Neuse River Basin.
The Wake County town is asking state environmental officials for permission to withdraw 6.17 million gallons a day from the Cape Fear River Basin to keep up with growth during a 30-year period.
The Fayetteville Public Works Commission opposed the request, citing concerns over long-term impacts like water availability and sustainability since Fuquay-Varina would not return treated water to the Cape Fear Basin.
PWC says reduced river flow in the Cape Fear River Basin could concentrate contaminants in the water, increasing the risk of algal blooms that could necessitate costly infrastructure upgrades downstream. The removal of water could also lead to increased drought risk, according to PWC.
Fayetteville PWC provides an estimated 250,000 Cumberland County residents with drinking water from the Cape Fear River Basin, and supplies several million more gallons to support Fort Bragg, local businesses, industries, and services, according to a press release from the City of Fayetteville.
Spring Lake Town Manager Jon Rorie said Fuquay-Varina’s plan would limit local growth opportunities.
“The only way we operate is through purchased water from PWC,” Rorie said. “This has a direct impact on Spring Lake because our purchasing capacity will at least be limited by 6.17 million gallons per day.”
Rorie and Commissioner Marvin Lackman said they worried Fuquay-Varina would need even more water in the future.
“This has huge implications for Spring Lake,” Lackman said. “If we don’t take a stand on this now, we’ll never catch up.”
A public hearing for the interbasin transfer will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, December 4, at Fayetteville Technical Community College, Cumberland Hall Auditorium, 2220 Hull Road. Additional public hearings will be held in Raleigh on Dec. 9 and Pittsboro on Dec. 11.
Rorie received approval from commissioners to speak in opposition of the transfer on behalf of the town.
The next Spring Lake board of Commissioners meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8 at Spring Lake Town Hall, 300 Ruth St.
