The Bladen County Commissioners, at a Monday groundwater workshop, heard an update from Jim Perry of Lumber River Council of Governments regarding the groundwater situation in Bladen and surrounding counties.

Perry pointed out that LRCOG became involved in the project to monitor water supplies in 1992, after being approached by the National Geologic Service about such a program. The agency then developed a strategic plan for monitoring the water supply, including who the users are and how much they use.

He explained the results of an ongoing study on the condition of aquifers that serve as water sources for the county and on groundwater supplies that serve many residents of the county.

Perry stated that the study was completed by taking samples in wells around the county and comparing data with that from earlier periods.

He said that the overall condition of the deep aquifers that serve the county are "in pretty bad shape."

He pointed out that aquifers that serve as water supplies for the county have been declining in recent years and "cones of depression" (areas where water is lower) have developed at various locations in these aquifers. Perry specifically pointed out the Upper Cape Fear aquifer as one of concern.

He said that cones of depression in the Tar Heel area and in the Elizabethtown would ultimately become one if present trends continue. He described the condition of this aquifer as the most pressing groundwater issue facing the county.

He compared the situation to that above other aquifers on the middle Coastal Plain, where stringent water conservation measures have had to be initiated to ensure a future water supply in those areas. He stated that Bladen and other southeastern North Carolina counties do not want to have to resort to such measures to ensure a future water supply.

"Water is going to be one of the critical issues in the next decade," said Perry. "New state regulations have been put into effect in 15 mid-coastal counties, which cut consumption by 25 percent. People in those counties are struggling to find ways to cut water consumption."

He pointed out that if those measures do not bring the drop in the aquifers into check, an additional cut in consumption of 25 percent would likely be mandated.

Perry stated that tests of wells throughout the county had revealed little contamination of groundwater supplies in the area. He pointed out that less than two percent of the wells tested had came back positive for contaminants such as fecal coliform.

"With a few exceptions, most of our groundwater is in pretty good shape," Perry stated.

He said there is still much to be learned about the aquifers and why cones of depression develop in some areas and not in others. He pointed out, for example, that Campbell Food's plant, which draws from a different aquifer, is the largest consumer of groundwater in the region; yet the cone of depression that has developed in that area is minor compared to the one in the Tar Heel area. The major industry in that area-Smithfield Packing Company-uses less than half the water as does the Campbell's plant.

Perry said that eventually the county is likely going to have some alternative water sources-such as groundwater from rivers and streams and other ground water. He pointed out that the lay of the land does not lend itself to reservoirs.

He stated that ultimately regulations would be in place that would limit water consumption.

"It's not a matter of if, but rather, when these regulations are coming," Perry said. "We hope with what we learn from our studies that we can delay mandatory water usage regulations or mitigate their effect with our efforts."

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