We are reaching out to inform you about Charlotte Water's preliminary proposal to modify our existing 2002 Interbasin Transfer (IBT) Certificate. In alignment with our commitment to transparency and cooperation, we are pleased to invite you to participate in the upcoming public meetings designed to engage with stakeholders and gather valuable input on this preliminary proposal.
On April 5, we announced five meetings, five of which have already occurred in North Carolina and South Carolina. Two additional meetings in the Hickory/Morganton, NC area and Rock Hill, SC area have been scheduled.
The proposed modification to the IBT Certificate is a necessary and long-planned step to address the growing water needs of our region. It seeks to adjust the authorized amount of water transfer from the Catawba-Wateree Basin to the Rocky River Subbasin of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin, ensuring a sustainable and reliable water supply in areas that are seeing increasing water demand. Many communities have interbasin transfers of water, sewer, and even stormwater. Charlotte is no different and needs to be able to direct allocated water resources to areas that require it.
Charlotte Water submitted a Notice of Intent for this modification to the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (EMC) as of February 22, 2024. This step marks the beginning of a lengthy, comprehensive process involving environmental assessments and public consultations so that environmental regulators in both North and South Carolina can ascertain the best path forward.
The public meetings for stakeholder input are:
- MEETING #1: Hickory, NC - May 8
- MEETING #2: Charlotte, NC – May 9
- MEETING #3: Albemarle, NC – May 15
- MEETING #4: Camden, SC – June 25 Liberty Hall, Revolutionary War Visitor Center
- MEETING #5: Florence, SC – June 27 Chapman Auditorium, Francis Marion University
- MEETING #6: Hickory/Morganton, NC Area – July 15 – CoMMA Performing Arts Center
- MEETING #7 Rock Hill, SC – July 29 – Dutchman Creek Middle School
Each meeting will feature a 30-minute presentation on the IBT modification request, including presentations/remarks from state regulators, followed by a session for public comments. We encourage your participation in person or via the virtual option available for those who cannot attend on-site.
Your feedback is invaluable to us. Verbal comments at the meetings will be recorded, and written comments can be submitted through our dedicated IBT website, CharlotteWaterIBT.org, or mailed to:
Charlotte Water
Attn: Jennifer Frost/IBT Modification Comments
4222 Westmont Drive
Charlotte, NC 28217
Please submit your comments by August 30, 2024, to ensure they are fully considered in the environmental report.
Charlotte Water has only just begun the modification process. We are committed to a robust and transparent stakeholder engagement process. A fact sheet about the process is enclosed. More information can also be found online at http://CharlotteWaterIBT.org.