Public given chance to weigh in on Cape Fear River water transfer into Pender County basins

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) –  Pender County is growing and leaders there say they need more water. They plan to get that water from the Cape Fear River, which is contaminated with GenX. Tonight, people had a chance to voice their concerns.

Out of the four fastest growing counties state-wide Brunswick was first, with Pender close behind. It’s because of that the county says they need this water. At first, we heard from people concerned about it, but that was not the case at the Thursday public hearing.

“This is the most economical way to handle it, this is the most environmentally sound way to handle that growth and if we don’t proceed with this we will have trouble meeting the demands of this county,” said Brian McCabe the interim director of the Pender County Public Utilities.

Water worries in Pender County do not stop at GenX, but making sure they have enough.

In January, when the NC Department of Environmental Quality was supposed to come hear from neighbors, ones we heard from did not think the water transfer was the best option.

“To have that pumped that into my home and have my daughter and my husband and my pets drink it, it would be, no,” said Hampstead resident Kristy Wilson.

Inclement weather caused the department to reschedule that meeting to March.

The county needs state approval to increase pumping Cape Fear River water to nearby basins from 1.5 to 14.5 million gallons a day. State and county officials actually say it is not that much.

“14.5 million gallons per day is less than five percent of the overall available flow in the river even at the lowest flow during drought periods,” said McCabe.

Conservation Fund members ask the county to be cautious with taking in the known contaminated water.

“Even after GenX there’s going to be emerging compounds. Things that we need to be proactive on,” said Bill Holman with The Conservation Fund.

Those who spoke want the county to move forward with this, saying it will provide a stable source for drinking water.

“When you or everybody depends on water from an aquifer you just have a whole lot to worry about as we found out and so we think, our at this point, our organizations number one priority is supporting the county,” said Allie Sheffield with Pender Watch and Conservancy.

Public comments can still for the state Environmental Management Commission until April 23rd. They could grant the water transfer sometime in July or September.