[SustainableNC] ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY OFFERS WATER CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE TO BUSI NESS AND INDUSTRY IN DROUGHT-AFFECTED NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES

[Diana Kees]

As North Carolina's drought deepens, now is the time for industrial,
business and institutional water users to put water efficiency strategies in
place to reduce demand in water-starved regions and municipalities. July 12,
Gov. Mike Easley called on all public water systems, industries and other
water users in the Cape Fear River Basin, the Yadkin River Basin and in the
Piedmont areas classified as in "exceptional" or "extreme" drought, to
reduce their water use by at least 20 percent. The N.C. Division of
Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA), a non-regulatory
state technical assistance agency, is available at no cost to help
businesses, industry, government agencies and institutions find ways to
achieve these reductions. 

DPPEA's water conservation assistance includes:

*On-site assessments that focus directly on identifying cost-saving options
to reduce water and energy use. Assessors prepare reports with specific
water efficiency recommendations, technical resources, vendor information,
case studies and educational program suggestions.  

*On-site industrial water conservation training/presentations, as well as
"Train the Trainer" courses that provide team members with the necessary
skills and tools to design and implement a water conservation program. 

*Presentations and staff availability for business, municipal and regional
meetings, forums and round-table discussions dealing with drought conditions
and water conservation issues. 

*A Water Conservation Web site (http://www.p2pays.org/water) for commercial,
industrial and institutional facilities includes information for planning
and budgeting, information on new water equipment and fixtures, information
for new construction or process modifications, and information for drought
situations. 

*A partnership with Waste Reduction Partners (WRP)
(http://www.landofsky.org/wrp), a team of highly experienced volunteer
engineers, architects and scientists that provides western North Carolina
businesses with water, waste and energy reduction assessments and technical
assistance. Through its assistance to the Regional Water Authority of
Asheville, Buncombe and Henderson during the 1998-99 drought, WRP estimates
more than 90 million gallons per year of water savings following more than
40 drought technical assistance visits to industries, hotels, multifamily
residences and other commercial owners.  

Water efficiency programs reduce water demand, provide water and wastewater
treatment savings, lessen environmental impact, and sustain water quality.
Business and industry looking to conserve water and save money without
hindering production processes should contact Rusty Harris-Bishop, DPPEA
environmental engineer, at (919) 733-4398 or (800) 763-0136 or via e-mail at
rusty.harris-bishop at ncmail.net.

****************************
Diana Kees
Public Information Officer
N.C. Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
Div. of Pollution Prevention and Environmental
  Assistance
1639 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1639
(919) 715-6515/6500
(919) 715-6794 (fax)

Check out DPPEA's new marketplace
for waste materials: www.ncwastetrader.org