Caldwell Chamber opposes Charlotte water transfer request

At our most recent board of directors meeting on Aug. 20, 2026, The Caldwell Chamber leadership prioritized a critical issue threatening the future of our region’s economy and natural resources: the Interbasin Transfer (IBT) request by Charlotte Water.

After thorough discussion, our board of directors and executive leadership stand united in strong opposition to this request, and we fully support the ongoing efforts to protect the Catawba River basin.

Charlotte recently asked the state for permission to withdraw up to 63 million gallons of water per day from the Catawba River basin.

Because this is an interbasin transfer, this precious resource would be permanently removed from our region and dumped into another basin and lost to the communities of origin forever.

The Caldwell Chamber fully endorses the business case against this transfer as outlined by the Protect Our Water, Protect Our Future coalition. The economic and environmental impacts of losing this volume of water would be severe:

• Constrained Economic Growth: Siphoning 63 million gallons of water daily severely limits Western North Carolina’s ability to serve current and future residents, recruit new employers, and support our existing manufacturers who rely on steady water access.
• Severe Drought Risks: The Catawba River Basin nearly ran dry during the historic 2007 drought. Diverting this massive volume of water out of the basin will multiply the risks for our local families, agriculture, and businesses during future droughts.
• Increased Water Treatment Costs: High-volume flow is required to keep rivers clean. Removing this much water reduces flow, leading to higher concentrations of sediment and pollutants, which ultimately means more expensive drinking water treatment costs for local taxpayers.

It is highly concerning that Charlotte projected this water need over two decades ago in 2002, yet for 25 years chose not to build out its own infrastructure.

Furthermore, when provided with $141 million in federal relief funds that could have been used for water infrastructure, the city chose to allocate those funds elsewhere.

We are not against Charlotte growing; we just don’t want it to be at our expense. The water we send elsewhere doesn’t come back, especially when our families and businesses need it most.

Fortunately, our region has exceptional advocates in Raleigh. The Caldwell Chamber extends its deepest gratitude to the leadership of our state lawmakers: Speaker Destin Hall, Sen. Eddie Settle, Rep. Blair Eddins, Rep. Jay Adams, Rep. Hugh Blackwell, Sen. Warren Daniel, Sen. Ralph Hise, Sen. Mark Hollo, and Rep. Mitchell Setzer.

Thanks to their tireless work, the new state budget includes a critical provision blocking large interbasin transfers like this one through Aug. 1, 2028. We are incredibly thankful for our delegation’s dedication to protecting what matters most to our community.

The Caldwell Chamber will always champion the resources that drive our local economy and strengthen local business. We are proud to stand alongside our legislative leaders, community partners, and local governments to ensure our water remains here, securing the future prosperity of our region.