water

We had a nice rain today. I have the windows open and the cross breeze gently passing me as I type is really wonderful. Reminds me of home. But I can't keep from wondering why the farm ponds around here still have not recovered.

I pass a good half dozen of them, ponds that is, between my home in downtown Clayton and my work on Aviation Blvd. These are just open field farm ponds. It doesn't look like any of them are spring fed, but still, not one of them is "full."

We must conserve water. If we do not conserve during a drought, we could run out of water, or have cloudy water as the water systems pump from the bottom of the lake.

Does that mean that our monthly water bills will drop?

I'm not a gambling kind of guy, but if I were, I'd bet that the odds of North Carolina running into these kinds of problems are pretty darn good. If such a scenario had a fifty percent likelihood of unfolding in America's 50 year future, or more specifically, in North Carolina's fifty-year future, what actions would be appropriate for government to take? Cross your fingers and hope the free market will "eventually" succeed? Impose regulations that limit high-consumption uses of water? Pray for rain? Institute the North Carolina Water Lottery? I wonder what the Puppets would say?

Shouldn't $1.6 million dollars of your hard earned North Carolina tax money give you the right to know and refuse exposure to hazardous pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals? If Governor Easley can spend $1.6 million tax payer dollars on a pesticide plan to protect farmworkers shouldn't the plan also include protecting the citizens of North Carolina as well. The plan should be comprehensive and not discriminate between industries, companies, workers, and citizens. Tell the Director of the State Office of Rural Health and Community Care, Mr. John Price to implement a plan that protects everyone's right to know when being exposed to hazardous pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals.

North Carolina is the only state in the country where every part of the state is in a designated Drought condition. Even if you’ve been living under a rock and have missed the media attention you can’t have failed to notice the drying earth beneath you.

A community forum on water challenges in Wake County
Sat., February 23rd, 9:30 am - noon
NCSU's McKimmon Center, Gorman Street, Raleigh

Lt. Governor candidate and BlueNC blogger Dan Besses has announced his waster resources plan.

My thoughts on the recent water issue from the Catawba River and the politicians that want to tell you how they can fix it. Long story short? Don't count on your Congressman or Senator. They can't do anything, even though they may tell you they can.

From 12/5/07 Raleigh News and Observer:
Ban Possible on new water tie-ins
http://www.newsobserver.com/weather/drought/story/811889.html
"With water supplies drying up in Raleigh and Durham, elected leaders in the Triangle's two biggest cities are considering tough new restrictions that could include a ban on new water customers."

At a press conference at the NC State Legislature in Raleigh yesterday political, non-profit and business leaders announced a new coalition, Partnership for North Carolina's Future, to urge the NC General Assembly to prepare now for the impact of the "population tsunami" on our state's economy and quality of life.

If you didn't read about it this morning it might be because the back of the Press Room, where reporters normally sit and stand, was crowded out by lobbyists opposed to the Partnership like Andy Munn of the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition, Lisa Martin of the NC Homebuilders, Rick Zechini of the NC Association of Realtors, reeking with cynical commentary and Becki Gray, registered lobbyist for the John Locke Foundation, texting frenetically on her Blackberry about the "little children" at the front of the crowd.

Press release below the fold: