§ 143-355.3.  Water shortage emergency powers.

(a) Declaration of Water Shortage Emergency. - If, after consultation with the affected water system and the unit of local government with jurisdiction over the area served by the water system, the Secretary determines that the needs of human consumption, necessary sanitation, and public safety require emergency action, the Secretary shall provide the Governor with written findings setting out the basis for declaration of a water shortage emergency. The Governor shall have the authority to declare a water shortage emergency in the area affected by the water shortage emergency, which may include both the water system experiencing a water shortage emergency and the area served by a water system required under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section to provide water in response to the water shortage emergency. No emergency period shall exceed 30 days, but the Governor may declare successive emergencies based upon the written findings of the Secretary.

(b) Water Shortage Emergency Powers and Duties. - Whenever, pursuant to this Article, the Governor declares the existence of a water shortage emergency within a particular area of the State, the Secretary shall have the powers and duties set out in subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection. These powers may only be exercised within the designated water shortage emergency area, after the Secretary has consulted with the affected water systems and determined that the water shortage emergency cannot be effectively managed in the absence of exercising these powers, and only for the period of the water shortage emergency. Under these circumstances, the Secretary has the power and duty to:

(1) Require any water system that has water supply in excess of that required to meet the essential water uses of its customers to provide water to a water system experiencing a water shortage emergency. The Secretary shall give preference to diversion of water from a water system within the same river basin as the water system that is experiencing a water shortage emergency. A diversion of water that requires a certificate under G.S. 143-215.22L shall meet the requirements of that section. The amount required to be supplied shall be limited to the amount necessary to supply essential water uses within the receiving system. The required diversion of waters shall cease upon the termination of the water shortage emergency.

(2) Adopt rules governing the conservation and use of water within the water shortage emergency area as shall be necessary to maintain essential water use within the water shortage emergency area. Before such rules and regulations shall become effective, they shall be published in two consecutive issues of a daily newspaper generally circulated in the emergency area.

(3) Adopt rules governing conservation and use of water within the service area of the water system from which water is being diverted as shall be necessary to maintain essential water uses in the system while supplying water to the water shortage emergency area.

(c) Temporary Rights-of-Way. - A water system that is affected by a water shortage emergency is authorized to lay necessary temporary waterlines for the period of a declared water shortage emergency across, under, or above any and all properties to connect the water system experiencing a water shortage emergency to an emergency intake in a new water source or to interconnect the water system to a supplying water or wastewater system without first acquiring right-of-way. The Department shall expedite the approval of temporary waterlines needed to provide emergency water supply under this section. Temporary waterlines installed under this section shall be removed within 90 days following the end of the emergency period except that the Secretary may, for good cause, authorize a 30-day extension.

(d) Compensation for Water Allocated During Water Shortage Emergency and Temporary Rights-of-Way. - Whenever the Secretary, pursuant to this Article, has ordered any diversion of water, the receiving water or wastewater system shall reimburse the supplying water system for the cost of the water. The cost charged to the receiving system shall not exceed one hundred ten percent (110%) of the retail cost that would be charged to a customer of the supplying system for an equivalent amount of water and any additional costs incurred by the supplying system for alterations to its infrastructure or water treatment to effectuate the diversion except as provided under an interlocal agreement. Unless liability is otherwise assigned in an interlocal agreement, the receiving water system shall be liable to all persons suffering any loss or damage caused by or resulting from the laying of temporary waterlines to effectuate the diversion. Within 10 days of placing the temporary waterlines, the water system that is liable shall institute a civil action in accordance with the procedures set out under Article 9 of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes to compensate the property owners for any taking caused by or resulting from the laying of temporary waterlines, with the water system that is liable having the role of the Department of Transportation and the governing board of the water system that is liable having the role of the Secretary of Transportation under Article 9 of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes. The placing of temporary waterlines pursuant to this section is not subject to the provisions of G.S. 153A-15.

(e) This section shall not be construed to authorize or require any actions that conflict with or are superseded by the provisions of any order of a federal or State court or administrative agency, any interstate agreement governing the allocation of water to which the State is a party, or any license for a hydroelectric generating facility issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; including, without limitation, any protocol or subsidiary agreement that may be part of or incorporated in any such order, interstate agreement, or operating license.

(f) Nothing in this section shall limit a landowner from withdrawing water for use in agricultural activities, as described in G.S. 106-581.1, when the water is withdrawn from any of the following:

(1) Surface water sources located wholly on the landowner's property, including, but not limited to, impoundments constructed by or owned by the landowner and captured stormwater.

(2) Groundwater sources, including, but not limited to, wells constructed on the landowner's property, springs, and artesian wells. This subsection shall not apply if the Governor determines that withdrawal of water from a groundwater source is causing negative impacts to groundwater sources not located on the landowner's property, including the diminution of water available from neighboring groundwater sources or saltwater intrusion into neighboring groundwater sources. (2008-143, s. 8; 2013-265, s. 21.)