LAKE GASTON — Citizens in the Roanoke Valley have been officially put on notice that the Kerr Lake Regional Water System intends to double its interbasin transfer (IBT) of water from the Roanoke River to citizens in the Tar, Fishing Creek and Neuse River basins as early as 2011.

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One of two public meetings were held Tuesday evening at the Longbridge Volunteer Fire Department to inform citizens in the Roanoke River Basin of KLRWS’s intention to request an Interbasin Transfer Certificate from the Environmental Management Commission. Three other meetings were held in the receiving basins.

An Interbasin Water Transfer is what happens when you transport water, usually by pipeline into another area— usually into another river basin. Most people in the “source” area don’t like the idea, because every gallon shipped is a gallon they can’t use. They cite environmental impacts and raperian rights as major reasons to prevent the transfer. Areas on the receiving end of the transfer have water. Generally, areas with water can flourish. The crux comes when demand outweighs the supply. Opponents of the interbasin transfer fear that growing cities whom generally don’t manage their own water systems very well will suck dry their neighbor’s water and in some cases that has happened.

Bill Kreutzberger and Adam Sharp from KLRWS’s consulting firm “CH2M Hill” from Raleigh, made the presentation, while Toya Fields from the N.C. Division of Water Resources monitored the meeting and noted citizens’ concerns. Citizens witnessed a Power Point presentation and received handouts.

Those handouts included an “Interbasin Transfer Request from the Roanoke River Basin — Scoping Document.” It says that KLRWS is owned by partners: The City of Henderson, City of Oxford and Warren County. They are the primary bulk customers. They sell water to the towns of Kittrell, Norlina, Warrenton, Middleburg, Franklin and Vance counties and Louisburg. The document states that future sales include Creedmoor, Granville County and the Triangle North business parks. Franklin County sells water to Bunn, Lake Royal and Youngsville. The handouts do not say whether or not the KLRWS buys water from anyone but a published report by the Capitol Broadcasting Company dated Sept. 21, 2005, said that the Army Corps of Engineers sells water to the Kerr Regional Water system. At that time the corps wanted a 30-year contract worth more than $3 million.

 A “grandfathered” interbasin transfer of 10 million gallons per day (mgd) was approved in 1998 to the KLRWS, according to their “Draft Environmental Assessment Scope” a Water Master Plan which was prepared in 1999. It identifies demand projections and water supply needs to the year 2030. This document states that the expected needs for water would exceed the 10 mgd capacity by 2008, but the scoping document, mentioned earlier and dated February 2009 says “While KLRWS will not approach the grandfathered IBT during the next 5 to 8 years, it is important to complete this process in a timely manner to ensure continued water service to KLRWS Partners...”

In 2005 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers evaluated and approved a re-allocation to the company that corresponds to an average annual withdrawal of 20 mgd. The scoping document says “through the IBT certificate and EIS process, alternatives to the use of Kerr Lake for water supply will also be analyzed. Other considerations will include avoiding an IBT by other means, such as returning wastewater to its source basin.”

The City of Henderson currently returns a portion of its waste water to the Roanoke River Basin at Nutbush Creek. That creek is on the 2006 303(d) list of impaired waters. In other words, that creek is on the Federal Clean Water Act’s list of waters for which do not meet applicable water standards. Oxford and Warrenton discharge their waste water into Fishing Creek, while Louisburg discharges into the Tar River. Those waters are also on the impaired waters list for 2006. The report is submitted on even years. The 2008 report has been removed from the NC Division of Water Quality’s Web site until it is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. To see the 2006 report log onto h2o.enr.state.nc.us/tmdl/General_303d.htm.

The scoping document also says that the company plans to use an Environmental Assessment submitted in 2003 as the foundation for the IBT environmental documentation required under the law. “This scope and following EA report will also identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues which are not significant or which have been covered by prior environmental review ... Since an EA was performed for the treatment plant expansion in 2003, the elimination of previous environmental review items should be anticipated for this project,” it says. The EA referred to was granted a “Finding of No Significant Impact.” There was no comment within the allotted 30 day review, and NCDENR issued a statement indicating no further environmental review action was needed.

CH2M Hill, the consulting firm projects the IBT certificate will be issued by August 2011. To follow the process of this transfer or for other documents on this issue, visit   www.ncwater.org/Permits_and_Registration/Interbasin_Transfer/Status/Kerr/