CWFNC believes that safe affordable water is a right for all North Carolinians, and we work to organize with communities, research the impacts of water supply privatization and pricing practices, and advocate for health-protective, just and sustainable statewide water quality and allocation policies.
Goals:
Ensure that North Carolinians know the source of their drinking water, the threats to its safety, and their responsibility for its protection. CWFNC does research and public education on drinking water source protection, the right to safe, affordable water, and threats to both ground and surface water. As a result of working with several communities whose wells were contaminated, we have worked extensively to strengthen protections for over 2.5 million NC private well users, most of whose wells have never been inspected or tested for more than bacteria, even when state and local agencies knew of nearby contamination sites.
Develop just and sustainable policies to protect rights to affordable drinking water, adequate supply, and equitable distribution (water allocation and pricing). CWFNC has studied the growing pressure of privatization of NC’s small drinking water systems and their impact on low income, rural and people of color communities. Our Water Justice “listening canvass” across the state indicates areas of strong shared values about the importance of right to know and to participate in local water policies. We are developing more effective strategies for promoting water policies at local and state levels, and strengthening public participation in democratic management of all water supplies.
