Water

Expert Water Panel Concludes We Need to Pay More for Safe Services

Caitlin Burke — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:31:56 -0500

Water ultimately may be our most precious resource. In fast growing Wake County, our water supply is relatively shallow in Raleigh and Eastern Wake towns. Given growth projections, reports show that demand for water will exceed supply. This really concerns WakeUP Wake County, so we've been strong advocates for conservation and efficiency programs. Progress is being made, including new tiered water rates in Raleigh which should encourage water conservation by charging more for bigger users.

Event presentations, Water: Is the Bill Coming Due?

Andrew Campbell — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 22:52:19 -0500

How much water do we have to meet growing demand in Wake County? What will the increasing costs be to provide clean drinking water and sewage disposal as infrastructure ages out?

These questions and more are answered in Water: Is the Bill Coming Due?, a public forum that will be aired on Raleigh Television's Network (RTN), starting April 21 at 8 pm. The program will be aired regularly on RTN Channel 11 and on RTN online in the coming weeks as well.

View forum topics and presentations below:

Summary of Falls Lake Rules – approved by EMC Nov. 18, 2010

Andrew Campbell — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:42:21 -0600

Falls Lake Rules - approved by Environmental Management Commission Nov. 18, 2010
Go into temporary effect Jan. 15, 2011 (until approved permanently)

Click here for printable PDF

Stage I: (worse) 10 years to implement (instead of 7)

Stage II: (good) Stage II still in and is not halted because of re-modeling; analysis of performance of St I and feasibility of St II is in 2025 - though anyone can come in with new data at any time

WakeUP speaks UP at recent Falls Lake stakeholder meeting

Andrew Campbell — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:25:34 -0500

More than 60 people representing government agencies, local advocacy groups, and private associations met November 3, 2010 to discuss plans for monitoring polluted Falls Lake. The rules, which take effect in January 2011, include a two-stage program to put the lower part of the lake, near Raleigh's water intake, in compliance with federal water-quality standards within 10 years and the entire lake in compliance within 30 years. The NC Environmental Management Commission meets November 17th and 18th to finalize the clean up plan.

PROTECTING YOUR DRINKING WATER SUPPLY - WakeUP Represented at Falls Lake Public Hearing

Andrew Campbell — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:06:49 -0500

Falls Lake, Wake's main drinking water supply, is badly polluted and Wake citizens are concerned. The State Environmental Management Commission recently held public hearings in Durham and Wake counties in efforts to collect public input on the Falls Lake Rule Process. WakeUP Wake County was well represented at both Falls Lake Public Hearings in Durham and Raleigh. WakeUP executive director, Karen Rindge, water team member, Tina-Motley Pearson, and student intern, Andrew Campbell alongside other WakeUP members strongly urged the State to clean up Falls Lake quickly, without delay. WakeUP also spoke in favor of stronger development standards in the watershed and supported Low Impact Development practices that have the potential to protect Falls from future polluted stormwater runoff. Mayor Meeker, Raleigh City Councilor Russ Stephenson and representatives from the Sierra Club, Wake Audubon Society, Neuse River Foundation and the Southern Environmental Law Center also gave remarks in favor of expediting the cleanup process and implementing stronger development standards.

Water Policy on Open Net TV, June 22

Andrew Campbell — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:47:10 -0500

One of the after-effects of North Carolina's drought in 2007 and 2008 was a revitalized public discussion about how we manage our water resources. Tune in Tuesday evening to talk about a basic, community necessity - water. We'll be looking at the kinds of issues that are being addressed now, the issues most likely to arise in the next two to five years, and we'll give you an opportunity to better understand the roles of the principals in this on-going policy discussion. Here to talk with you will be Bill Holman, Director of State Policy for the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University; Robin Smith, Assistant Secretary for the Environment with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Erin Wynia, North Carolina League of Municipalities Policy Analyst with a primary focus in environmental issues.

Online TV mini series: Falls Lake, how polluted is it?

Andrew Campbell — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:02:08 -0500

The state of Falls Lake continues to receive attention from concerned citizens across the Triangle. Tina Motley Pearson, one of WakeUP's Water Team leaders and resident of Durham County, recently produced a TV mini series on the state of Falls Lake. With a total of three installments, the program explains the implications of water pollution for area residents. Click the link below to view all three installments of 'Save Falls Lake'.

SAVE FALLS LAKE - view now
Falls Lake TV miniseries is now available online!!

Falls Lake rule-making process - Here's What you can do to protect YOUR drinking water!

Andrew Campbell — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:26:37 -0600

Sign the Falls Lake petition (hosted by NC Conservation Network). Click here to sign and make sure YOUR VOICE is heard! Please foward this to your friends!

City of Raleigh Delays Tiered Water Rates

Caitlin Burke — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:03:38 -0500

Thanks to a wet spring and a cooler-than-usual summer, Raleigh escaped the severe droughts of recent years in 2009. But we cannot be sure it won't happen next year, or the year after. However, we can be prepared for future droughts. That's why the Raleigh City Council has made recommendations for water conservation.

WakeUP Provides Comments on Raleigh's Infrastructure Impact Plan

Caitlin Burke — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:01:08 -0500

The City of Raleigh recently took comments on its draft Secondary and Cumulative Impacts (SCI) Management Plan, which addresses growth-related environmental impacts from infrastructure projects planned for Raleigh and the municipalities served by the City's Public Utilities Department. Karen Rindge, Executive Director of WakeUP Wake County, submitted oral comments on the plan at a public meeting on August 17, as well as written comments that provided additional details about WakeUP's recommendations for the plan.