HICKORY, N.C. — Clean water is essential, and as Charlotte continues to grow, so does the need for water.
The city is requesting more than 30 million additional gallons from the Catawba County Interbasin, an idea that’s met with a lot of pushback.
That pushback was apparent at a meeting in Hickory on Wednesday.
"It's crazy, people are not going to go for that," Hickory resident Joanna Kentch said.
Some residents said there’s been a lot of talks about the impact additional water will have for Charlotte, but there are not enough conversations about the impact this will have on the areas the basin is already responsible for serving.
"I think it's just all about what Charlotte wants," a speaker at the meeting said.
"What does 30 million gallons mean?" Hickory resident Kennedy Mitchell asked. "It can't be good."
The discussion led to a jam-packed meeting in Hickory which included many residents from various areas served by the Catawba County Interbasin.
"They are going to be restricted and can barely mow their lawns," Kentch said. "It will be a major impact."
The mayor of Hickory is also in opposition to the city's request.
"We feel like the water is just as important to us as it is to them," Hickory Mayor Hank Guess said.
Guess said their region should not be forced to give up its potential growth opportunities to subsidize Charlotte’s growth with its water resources.
"Water is our most valuable resource," Guess said. "Without water, you cease to exist and we are growing at a steady pace here in Hickory and surrounding municipalities."
Guess said the water should stay in the basin where it originates.
The discussion will continue at another meeting on Thursday in Charlotte from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Charlotte Water HQ, 4100 W Tyvola Road.
Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.