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, provide effective organizing and technical assistance to communities, and ensure that just and sustainable policies are in place to maintain rights to affordable drinking water, adequate supply, and equitable distribution.
OUTREACH
Our 2006 listening canvass heard voices from diverse communities across the state. We discovered strong shared values about the importance of right-to-know and participation in water policy processes, but little understanding of what’s different about privatized water systems and their effects on pricing. We used this dialogue on water rights to develop more effective strategies for promoting water policies at local and state levels, and strengthening public participation in protection of drinking water safety.
We continue to work with communities facing water justice issues through organizing and technical assistance, focusing on disadvantaged or marginalized populations. Our “NC Toolkit for Protecting your Environmental Rights” is available at low cost to civic, environmental and social justice groups across the state wishing to build their organizational capacity – order yours today! We welcome the water stories from YOUR community; contact Katie Hicks (Katie@cwfnc.org) or 828-251-1291 to tell us about drinking water issues in your neighborhood!
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. In 2005, we published the report “A Fairly Watered State: Lessons for North Carolina from the Drought-Vulnerable Yadkin Basin.” We have also advocated for water management policy for a more just and sustainable NC.
Water Privatization
Although it is generally agreed that water is a basic human right, issues of scarcity, over-allocation and aging infrastructure are increasingly leading to privatization of water utilities and higher water prices for consumers. CWFNC’s report on privatization of water utilities highlights NC’s movement towards privatized small drinking water systems. The report summarizes case studies and documents the urgency for developing public involvement and statewide policy regarding the privatization of water and wastewater systems, and recommends 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. We are currently updating this report with recent privatization actions statewide to focus public attention on this worrisome trend.
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. In 2006 CWFNC developed policy and legislative initiatives that led to the first pilot Emergency Drinking Water Fund for the state, the Bernard Allen Memorial Emergency Drinking Water Fund, with the goal of providing immediate safe water supply to impacted communities with limited resources. CWFNC continues to take steps to ensure proper use of this fund, and to work for protective water policy for well users in NC.
|
