Put a lid on that idea
What an amazing and fortunate discovery. That was my initial reaction to reports that in testing land for a future reservoir, workers found tremendous underground aquifers in the Yadkin Valley community of Caldwell County.
My second reaction: I hope we don't mess this up.
I say that not as an indictment of recent actions by our government leaders (though others probably would say it), but instead as a reminder that natural resources are a special gift, and too many times in the past we have over exploited them, or simply taken them for granted.
It's likely that the suggestion made by Herb Greene, chairman of the Caldwell County Commission, that the county could generate some commercial revenue from “selling” the newly-found water, was just an idea. I applaud him for that, as too often there isn't enough open discussion on potential uses or approaches to a project, opportunity or decision that affects every Caldwell County resident.
That being said, any discussion of possibly selling those millions of gallons of fresh water should not be considered realistic or responsible at this time.
The incredible find was located on land owned by the county that is being planned for a future reservoir on a tributary of the Yadkin River. That reservoir was going to provide Caldwell County an alternate water source, as well as a recreational attraction.
But what was found on the site by engineers and scientists may be 10 times better.
In addition to possibly saving the county the expense of building a dam and reservoir, it also provides a water supply that would be pure, replenishable (even during a drought) and not too difficult to tap. The potential flow of this aquifer is millions of gallons of water per day.
Another potential benefit, if the majority of the county's public water consumers were able to use this new source, would be lessening the stress on the already overtaxed Catawba River.
This discovery of underground fresh water is not the same as uncovering a thick seam of valuable gemstones or a million barrels of crude oil. This is water, people. Unlike precious metals or carbon-based fuels, which we can exist without, water is essential. It's essential not only to life, but also to local industry, tourism and residential growth.
Take the drought issue as an example. Though life would be harder without the conveniences provided by commodities like coal and oil, water is an absolute necessity to life. It shouldn't be viewed as a way to generate some much-needed cash.
Caldwell County has faced two of the worst droughts in the last century, one being in 2001, and the latest continues to this day. That's two serious droughts in the last 10 years. If in fact we have a pure and abundant source of water, by way of aquifer, that could be used for public consumption, it should be used for that purpose.
At a time when greed in growing communities to our south is siphoning water from our existing supply, via the Catawba River, and we're on the doorstep of Stage 4 water restrictions due to drought, the aquifer discovery should be considered a blessing. Let's thank God for it and make the best use of it, not only for the present but also for our future.
Edward Terry
Editor