Gov. Easley’s newest recommendations focus too much on voluntary
efforts
Raleigh,
NC – At today’s meeting of the
Drought Management Advisory Commission, Governor Easley called for increased
conservation by individuals and urged local water systems to implement
conservation pricing to provide a financial incentive to use water efficiently.
NCPIRG supports these voluntary efforts, but believes the time has come for
mandatory, permanent solutions to North
Carolina’s water crisis.
“To ensure that we have sufficient water resources in the
months, years and decades to come, we must adopt permanent efficiency and
conservation measures,” stated NCPIRG Advocate Rob Thompson. “This is a
statewide problem and we need statewide solutions.”
Up to this point, some of the hardest hit localities,
including Raleigh and Durham, have yet to implement conservation
pricing. In order to ensure that all local governments take the necessary steps
to solve this problem, the state must implement mandatory conservation pricing
for all local governments. Governor Easley can take this step unilaterally by
declaring a state of emergency or he could call a special legislative session
to address the issue.
“The time for half-measures and volunteerism is over,”
continued Thompson. “We need immediate policy changes.”
As the state continues its rapid population growth, using water
more efficiently will become even more important. That’s why NCPIRG is calling
on the state to require all new developments to meet minimum efficiency and
reporting requirements. Specifically, all new developments should have two
meters – one that measures outdoor water usage and another that measures indoor
usage. In times of scarcity, local governments will have the option of
rationing or cutting off all outdoor water. Also, water efficient appliances,
like shower heads, clothes washers, toilets, and even small cisterns and rain
barrels should be required on all new homes.
“North Carolina
is growing at an astounding rate, so it’s critical that all new development be
as efficient as possible,” said Thompson.
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NCPIRG is a statewide,
non-profit, non-partisan citizen-based advocacy group dedicated to consumer
protection, public health and good government
