County will also initiate a program to teach young people about conservation

Craven County is moving ahead with plans to take water from the Peedee Aquifer with hope it may provide potable affordable water through 2013.

The county also will initiate a program to educate young people about the value of water conservation and move toward a rate structure that encourages good water management, decided county commissioners, acting as the Craven County Water and Sewer Board of Directors.

State capacity rules aimed at keeping water supplies from draining dry popularly used aquifers is forcing the county to cut its withdrawal from the Black Creek Aquifer. Volume must be down 25 percent by 2008 and 75 percent by 2018, and the county is looking for alternative sources.

When the county started its evaluation, engineers thought water from the Peedee Aquifer would have to be blended with water from the Black Creek Aquifer to meet water quality specifications.

"To our surprise, the water quality in the Peedee is quite good," said consulting engineer Tom Tant of Hazen and Sawyer Environmental Engineers and Scientists in Raleigh.

He said tests at two sites suggest the water can be used without blending so long as the county does not try to pump too much. That would not require a water treatment plant.

"With the Peedee implementation you're looking at a project cost of $1.4 million to get you through the 2013 window," Tant said. He estimated a cost of $8 million to $10 million to get to the 2018 cutback unless the rules change.

Conservation, changes in water allowed for irrigation and inclining water rates also are possible ways the county could reduce the amount needed from the aquifer, said Rusty Hayes, Craven water and sewer superintendent.

"There is a lot of precious good water that is being sprayed on lawns right now, and that doesn't have to be done and doesn't need the high-quality water we're selling," said Harold Blizzard, Craven County manager. "There are some tough decisions to be made about that."

Blizzard was given, the board's permission to move forward with work toward tapping into the Peedee.

"We won't commit the county to anything until we come back, if you're agreeable," he said.

Sue Book can be reached at (252) 635-5666 or sbook@freedomenc.com