water fight

North Carolina may slowly be running out of drinking water. Demand keeps growing and it is starting to turn one part of the state against another.

The fight is not about what's happening now; it is about what will be left for North Carolinians to drink 20 years from now.

City leaders from Cary, Apex and Durham say that they need more water from Jordan Lake -- water that would normally flow into the Cape Fear River. Downstream in Fayettevile, city leaders say that the Triangle's water could come at their expense.

John Rose owns two boat ramps on the Cape Fear. He's concerned that the Triangle's dipping into the lake upstream will mean lower water levels downstream. He believes that lower water levels could have a serious impact on area wildlife.

Rose is concerned that people all along the river may be adversely affected by the Triangle's plans for Jordan Lake.

Many people along the Cape Fear are fearing the worst. They want to know if less water in the river will impact development in Fayetteville. Mick Noland, the Director of Water Resources, is carefully examiningg the situation. He wants to ensure that today's plans won't affect tomorrow's water supply in Fayetteville.

No one really knows what the future holds. The final decision will come from the state after they examine research from all of the affected cities.

Brian Shrader