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> Restore Water Quality to Jordan Reservoir
Water Quality:
Restore Water Quality to Jordan Reservoir
Our Position: support
Bill Number: HB239
Sponsor: Rep. Lucy Allen
Legislative Session: 2009
Jordan Lake (of Chatham and Durham counties) is presently in violation of federal standards for chlorophyll and alkalinity, which reflect the presence of too much phosphorus and nitrogen in the lake, resulting in a rise of the lake’s pH level. In recent times, the pH level has gone as high as 9 – enough to chemically irritate skin and pose a significant threat to wildlife.
The Jordan Lake Rules are measures intended to better control runoff from wastewater treatment plants, new and existing development, and the agricultural sector: the three largest contributors to the problem. And the rules face only one last hurdle until they can be initiated – legislative review.
State and federal laws mandate North Carolina return the water source to health, and the state is already years behind schedule. NC Sierra Club recommends the General Assembly support HB239 to improve water quality in Jordan Lake.
Status
pending
Background
Jordan Lake’s watershed (the water that flows into the lake) now provides drinking water to close to a million people, and that number is only expected to grow. The lake is also an economically important recreational destination, with more than a million people visiting the lake per year
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