State working with communities with worst water shortages

RALEIGH (AP) -- The North Carolina communities facing the worst water shortages are in the western half of the states, many deep in mountains. Governor Mike Easley said Friday that state officials are working with the 11 most vulnerable communities to identify alternative water resources. All the communities are west of the Triad. Those towns and cities are Bessemer City, Boone, Blowing Rock, Hendersonville, Lenoir, Marshall, Monroe, Robbinsville, Tryon, Valdese and Yadkinville. State officials said some of the areas need to interconnect their water systems with other communities nearby. Others need to dig deeper intake valves or add more wells. Officials are now assisting 19 other water systems struggling with water shortages. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)