A group of North Carolina senators is urging state regulators to reject a proposal that would allow Fuquay-Varina to withdraw millions of gallons of water each day from the Cape Fear River without returning it to the basin.
Sen. Michael Lee said in a post on X, “Protecting our water is non-negotiable.”
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Lee said he and several colleagues representing downstream communities sent a bipartisan letter to the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission opposing the request, which would allow the town to remove water from the Cape Fear River Basin without sending it back.
“Nearly one million North Carolinians rely on this river for drinking water, jobs, and quality of life,” Lee said. “Permanently removing that water puts our communities and our future at risk.”
The town is seeking an interbasin transfer certificate to withdraw up to 6.17 million gallons a day from the Cape Fear River Basin and discharge treated wastewater into the Neuse River Basin. State law requires approval for transfers between river basins because they can reduce available water for downstream users.
In the letter dated March 31, lawmakers warned the proposal could have long-term consequences for water supply, water quality and costs across southeastern North Carolina.
The letter said the Cape Fear River Basin serves as a primary drinking water source for more than 500,000 people in the Lower Cape Fear region and supports the water needs of nearly one million residents overall. It said permanently removing 6.17 million gallons a day could reduce river flow during drought and strain already stressed systems.
Lower flows could also reduce dilution of pollutants, including industrial discharges and PFAS, potentially increasing treatment costs for downstream utilities and ratepayers.
Concerns about the proposal have been building for months.
When the plan surfaced late last year, more than 20 local governments, utilities and environmental groups voiced opposition, including the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority and the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. Officials warned that reduced flow could trigger conservation measures and complicate water supply for critical users, including Fort Bragg.
Fuquay-Varina leaders have said the town needs a more reliable long-term water source to keep up with rapid growth. The town currently purchases water from Raleigh, Harnett County and Johnston County, but has said those agreements will not meet future demand.
The proposal is one of several options considered by the town. Documents tied to the request estimate that returning water to the Cape Fear basin instead of the Neuse basin could cost roughly $200 million more.
The letter said alternatives that return water to the Cape Fear River should be more thoroughly evaluated and warned that approving the request could set a precedent for other communities to seek similar transfers.
The letter said approval “would establish a precedent” allowing municipalities to permanently divert water from the basin without returning it.
State regulators are reviewing the draft environmental impact statement and public comments. The Environmental Management Commission is expected to take up the proposal at its May meeting.
The debate comes as North Carolina faces growing pressure on water supplies from population growth, increased demand, and recurring drought conditions that can further strain river basins across the state.