The Institute for Emerging Issues' Strategies for Strengthening Our Water Infrastructure report reinforces many of the challenges and opportunities facing communities across our region. As one of North Carolina's fastest-growing areas, our member governments continue to balance growth with the need to protect drinking water supplies, modernize aging infrastructure, and prepare for emerging contaminants such as PFAS and microplastics. Throughout the 14 strategies presented, the report highlights the importance of proactive resource planning, the need to ensure a revenue-positive enterprise fund, watershed protection, and regional collaboration as water challenges extend beyond municipal boundaries.
The report also emphasizes that many of today's water challenges cannot be addressed by a single community alone. By working together through regional partnerships, our member governments can leverage shared technical expertise, strengthen long-term water resource planning, pursue funding opportunities, and build more resilient water infrastructure. As development continues across our region, coordinated planning among local governments, utilities, state agencies, and regional organizations will become increasingly important to maintaining reliable, sustainable water resources for residents and businesses alike.
CPRC is committed to helping our member governments put these recommendations into practice. Our staff can assist with strategic planning, utility rate studies, and connect your community to the regional water supply and water quality partnerships that Central Pines administers, providing opportunities to collaborate with neighboring communities, share technical expertise, and address water resource challenges on a regional scale. Please contact Program Manager Chris Lawson, clawson@centralpinesnc.gov for more information or to discuss the water challenges that you face. We'd like to hear from you and learn about your experience.