Besse on NC Water

NEWS RELEASE—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 4, 2008

NORTH CAROLINA NEEDS COMPREHENSIVE,LONG-TERM STATE WATER RESOURCES PLAN

"Water resources have become our most urgent state planning need in North Carolina," declared Dan Besse, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor.

"The problem goes well beyond the looming crisis of the next ten months, when we will see mandatory restrictions on water use in cities and towns around our state," he said. "Our population is booming, and our economy must keep up. At the same time, ongoing climate change is projected to result in more frequent and severe droughts. The days of assuming unlimited cheap water in our state are over."

"We must face the need to manage this critical resource in our state for the long haul. Our people's health, our natural environment, and our economic future all depend on improved water management," he concluded.

Besse released today an eight-point outline of his "Water Resources Plan for North Carolina in the 21st Century". The eight points address the following:

1) Comprehensive inventory of resources and demands.

2) Creation of a planning baseline using existing demand trends.

3) Strengthening water interbasin transfer rules.

4) Establishing local, regional, and statewide water use efficiency planning.

5) Development of systems for reuse of graywater.

6) Plans to turn stormwater from a problem into a resource.

7) Creation of comprehensive water emergency planning.

8) Requirement that all state permit decisions account for water resources impacts.

Besse has the depth of background to address this issue on a statewide policy basis. He is a former chair of the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission, former water discharge permit (NPDES) committee chair of the N.C. Environmental Management Commission, and is now in his second four-year term as a member of the Winston-Salem City Council. Winston-Salem operates one of the best-prepared water/sewer utilities in North Carolina.

Dan Besse 2008
www.danbesse2008.org


Email paid for by Dan Besse 2008.
PO. 15346
Winston-Salem, NC 27113