The WATER JUSTICE CAMPAIGN
Our Water Justice Campaign draws attention to the critical need for protection of the public’s drinking water—both quality and quantity—as a basic human right. In order to strengthen our work with communities for more protective and sustainable policies, this campaign aims to grow awareness of public water supply sources and their vulnerability to thousands of potential contaminant sources as well as transparency and accountability for financial and health impacts of polluters.
OUTREACH
The statewide Water Justice Campaign is scheduling visits to diverse communities across North Carolina. Our L ISTENING Canvass involves CWFNC staff and volunteers talking with residents in urban and rural places near where YOU live, in order to learn directly from residents about their water concerns and questions. Wherever possible, we will schedule an evening gathering at a local community center with the showing of a documentary that explores the debate over water rights between communities and corporations, and an opportunity for dialogue and reflection on water as a basic human right. Please contact Jill (jill@cwfnc.org) or 828-251-1291 to invite the canvass to your community!
RESEARCH and ADVOCACY
Just and Sustainable Water Policy
Since the extended drought that peaked in 2002, CWFNC has been involved in revealing how poorly prepared NC is to cope with a serious drought or other water emergencies. We have also advocated for water management policy for a more just and sustainable NC. Soon to be posted on our website: a report that summarizes the lessons learned from the Yadkin Basin, North Carolina’s most drought-impacted region.
Water Privatization
CWFNC is presently conducting research and producing a report, to be released later this year, about the impact of privatization on water services in North Carolina. The report will summarize case studies and document the urgency for developing public involvement and statewide policy regarding the privatization of water and wastewater systems, and recommend minimum state requirements for a state or regional policy to fairly allocate and price NC’s water resources to meet human, economic, and habitat needs.
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Protecting Health and Safety of Private Well Users
Over 2 million North Carolinians depend each day on a private well for their drinking water. Households on public water systems (serve 25 or more users) have their drinking water tested and receive a water quality “report card” every year. Private well users do not have the protection of regular testing or public notification. Based on CWFNC’s experience with many communities impacted by well contamination, and his own, Rep. Bernard Allen of Raleigh is sponsoring House Bill 1701 to provide a practical and inexpensive approach to assuring safe water by requiring.
- NOTIFYING well users near any known groundwater contamination.
- TESTING of well water used in homes and businesses before they are leased or sold.
- CREATING a $1 million Emergency Drinking Water Fund to help provided immediate safe water supply for impacted communities with limited resources.
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