CCEC Alerts: 
CCEC, Inc. - March 1, 2007

TARGET 2011

CCEC is supporting the Haw River Assembly (HRA) in targeting 2011 as the year for implementing rules to clean up our main source of drinking water in Chatham County.  Other forces are working against us, playing a game of DELAY that makes Dean Smith’s old “4 corners offense” look like a run and gun game.
 
A BRIEF WATER HISTORY LESSON: JORDAN LAKE
 

1982 – Jordan Lake is created.
1983 – Jordan Lake is declared by NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) to be
 “Nutrient Sensitive”. 
 
1997 -  NC mandates nitrogen reductions (HB 515) for all wastewater treatment plants in the Haw River watershed, to address the growing excess algae (which contributes to Jordan Lake’s problems.)  However, implementation of rules is delayed at request of dischargers who ask for “further study.”

2002  - “Further study” results are published showing that nitrogen is in fact causing impairment at the lake.  NC adds the Upper New Hope Arm of Jordan Lake to the EPA “Impaired Waters List”.

2005 - The entire lake is put on the ‘Impaired Waters’ list.  NC General Assembly passes the “Drinking Water Reservoir Protection Act’.  One of its provisions is a moratorium on any new or increased wastewater permits in the Jordan Lake watershed until the nutrient rules are passed. However, the state does not enact rules to reduce nutrient pollution in Jordan Lake, and in the meantime the population and sources of nutrient pollution continue to grow. 
 
2007 - Due to the opposition of local governments that discharge wastewater and storm water into Jordan Lake’s watershed, the rules that DWQ brought before the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) Water Quality Committee are weakened in several areas.
 
WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHY?
 
The date for compliance for nitrogen reductions by wastewater treatment plants has been pushed back from 2011 to 2016:
Is this decision based on new science or monitoring data?  NO! 
Is it entirely a political compromise?  YES! 
Can Jordan Lake handle this extra 5 years of nitrogen pollution without severely compromising its uses for drinking water and recreation?  NO!
 
WHAT MUST BE DONE?
 
The Haw River Assembly has been the main voice speaking for strong protection for Jordan Lake since1982.  CCEC joins with HRA Director, Elaine Chiosso, in calling for Chatham County to take the lead in urging the state to implement nitrogen reductions by at least 2011.  The EMC will be meeting on March 7- 8, and is expected to discuss the Jordan Lake rules and send them out to public comment. Join us in asking for the original nitrogen implementation date of 2011 to be put back in. and to urge the state to delay no longer on getting the rules passed. 
 
Here is the link to NC DENR to make your plea: http://www.envhelp.org/html/feedback.html.

Target date: 2011 – no later!