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Regional planner warns Catawba River could be strained by Charlotte-area interbasin transfer
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Summary
Anthony Starr of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments told the Catawba County board that Charlotte Water's loss ratios and financing limits make alternatives to an interbasin transfer uncertain, and he warned that an IBT would increase drought risks for communities that rely on the Catawba River.
Anthony Starr, executive director of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, told the Catawba County Board of Commissioners on March 2 that a proposed interbasin transfer (IBT) from the Catawba River basin would heighten drought risks for communities in the region.
Starr said Charlotte Water’s current water-loss ratios and limited financial ability to fund non-transfer alternatives mean the Charlotte-area demand could shift pressure onto downstream users. "The Charlotte region's growth should not come at the expense of our region — and it would, as we rely upon the Catawba River basin for drinking water," Starr said, a point he reiterated during his presentation.
The presentation reviewed regional water-loss figures and examined how an IBT could affect drought resilience and drinking-water supply for counties that draw from the Catawba River basin. Starr noted fiscal constraints could limit Charlotte Water’s ability to pursue less impactful solutions and stressed the potential trade-offs of permitting an IBT.
Board members did not take formal action on the presentation. The update was provided for information; no ordinance, resolution or vote related to interbasin transfers was recorded at the March 2 meeting.