Watauga-Ashe leaders discuss water

By Scott Nicholson

The Watauga and Ashe county commissioners met in Jefferson Monday to explore the possibility of a joint regional water system.

Watauga County leaders had previously met with officials from Boone, Blowing Rock and Appalachian State University to discuss interconnected water supply systems and a new water intake and treatment plant.

Boone has conducted engineering studies in anticipation of future needs, while Blowing Rock is seeking to expand its intake, and ASU has its own water intake and supply. Since engineering studies suggest the New River in Ashe County as a possible intake point, the parties agreed to plumb the thoughts of Ashe County leaders.

Watauga County commissioner Jim Deal said an Institute of Government representative had told the parties that regional opportunities had a better chance of receiving federal funds than smaller, one-entity projects.

He also noted the New River probably provided the best source for large water intake, whether near the Ashe border in Watauga or further downriver near West Jefferson.

Deal said Watauga County wasn’t looking for an immediate commitment, but had an opportunity to provide water for the least possible cost to consumers.

“I know 25 to 50 years from now, water will be a very valuable resource,” Deal said. He added that the two counties were dealing with the same growth issues, and water supply would play a key role in where and how growth occurred. He said he personally supported a regional entity, but said it wasn’t important to him what it was called or who controlled it. Deal also said whichever entities joined the effort would be able to provide water at lower cost to their customers.

Watauga County commissioner Keith Honeycutt said the region faced limited supply due to the number of river headwaters arising at higher elevations. State regulations limit the amount of water that can be taken from a surface source, depending on the average flow rate. Honeycutt said no locality should get priority and that all customers should be charged the same rate, and that supply should be allocated according to need.

Ashe County manager Dan McMillan said the county had tried to establish a sewer authority in Warrensville, where water and septic tanks in a flood plain had led to concerns. McMillan said the county would have had to spend $200,000 more than expected, and that under rate structures, even non-users of the system might have had to pay, so the idea died.

McMillan said, “Common sense tells you to build one (larger) plant,” and said West Jefferson got all its water from wells, while Jefferson had a system that drew a third of its supply from the New River.

However, the town can only afford to run one shift at its water plant. An effort years ago to build a joint intake for both Jefferson and West Jefferson failed at the last minute, according to Richard Blackburn, an Ashe County commissioner and former town council member for Jefferson.

Both boards acknowledged that the U.S. 421 and U.S. 221 corridors were ripe for growth because of easy road access. Deal suggested that Deep Gap might have Watauga’s next incorporated town, and the commissioners planned water usage there.

The corridor between Boone and Blowing Rock is another possibility, especially as Boone and Blowing Rock have discussed an interconnected pipeline. The commissioners have also named U.S. 321 west of Boone as another possible service corridor.

Ashe commissioner Richard Calhoun said Lansing and Warrensville had the most pressing needs for water service, though they were more remote, smaller communities. He also questioned why the counties wanted a larger system if they wanted to preserve rural character and farms. “Why do we want to make water available if we want to control growth?” he asked.

Deal responded, “In Watauga, I don’t think we could control growth if we tried. I think Ashe County is just on the cusp of the growth we’re experiencing. Even if there’s no growth at all, you’ll still have water problems.”

Ashe planning director Zach Edwardson said in residential areas along U.S. 221, people were having difficulty placing septic tanks and wells on half-acre lots. “The health department is already seeing water quality issues,” he said.

Honeycutt said water and health regulations were growing more strict all the time, and though no immediate decisions were required, the parties should put everything on the table. “We’re at the point where we can’t wait five years to begin the conversation,” he said.

McMillan said some lots were being sold “sight unseen” by the buyer, who was then left to find out whether septic tanks and wells could be placed on the site.

He said after the developer “has the money and is gone,” the people would be looking to the local government to solve the problem.

Watauga County manager Rocky Nelson said a county water study conducted five years ago showed that water collected primarily in fractures in rocks, so there was no way to judge the effect of well drilling on groundwater supply. He said the mountains have yet to suffer a serious drought that might lead to wells and springs drying up.

Calhoun was concerned about the preservation of family farms, and said protection of green space was important, suggesting a possible “wind farm” and other forms of economic development. “Our land is too valuable to even grow Christmas trees on,” he said.

Honeycutt said growth was Watauga’s industry, with a number of second homes being built, and said many local jobs were in the low-paying service industry, which was why the county was supporting education in the construction trades.

Blackburn said the Ashe commissioners would need to discuss what sort of growth they envisioned and would need to look at their own needs before joining a regional effort.

“We haven’t discussed what we would do with the water,” he said. He also noted that he didn’t like the term “water authority.”

Deal said the effort could be called a “cooperative,” but would function the same, by being able to issue bonds, borrow money and set rates. Deal said any system would ultimately be an “enterprise system,” where the users paid.

Nelson said as Watauga’s financial administrator, he favored a system in which treated water would be piped to the towns and also be available for tapping by those along the pipeline corridors.

Deal acknowledged that those entities that already had a system in place and money invested in infrastructure might be reluctant to contribute those assets, though he believed those assets would allow them to offer lower rates for their customers in the long run.

The Ashe Commissioners were invited to attend Watauga’s next joint meeting of Boone, Blowing Rock and ASU to discuss the issue.

• Scott Nicholson may be contacted

at nicholson@wataugademocrat.com.