Catawba Riverkeepers Fight For Clean Drinking Water

McADENVILLE, N.C. — “Most people want clean water, you know?”

It’s a goal that hits home for Catawba Riverkeeper Brandon Jones – literally.

“I live and work right here, and the South Fork is near and dear to my heart. It’s one of my favorite places in the basin to paddle. Unfortunately, 40% of the time, it’s unsafe to swim in.”

As the Catawba River basin provides drinking water for over two-and-a-half million residents, is used as the primary energy source for nearly four million homes and businesses, all while bringing millions of dollars in revenue to both Carolinas, keeping the river clean, safe, and healthy should be a top priority for all who rely on it.”

But right now, the Catawba isn’t exactly reliable.

“It’s got a bad reputation,” says Jones.

“It’s brown as you drive up 321, every time it rains it turns funny colors, and then whenever we sample it, we find high levels of fecal bacteria.”

The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation has been on the frontlines for decades fighting to keep your water clean.

“We have a team of about 15 staff scientists and advocates,” Jones adds, “And we try to improve water quality.”

“There are a lot of opportunities we’ve found, whether it’s live-staking, just stabilizing the shoreline, or some of these bigger projects, like removing old legacy dams, but they all real potential to impact and improve water quality.”

McAdenville residents like Grant Newell appreciate the foundation’s work.

“I see the impact of the healthiness of that river on a regular basis. So, for me, it’s right in my backyard,” quips Newell, who moved to Gaston County five years ago.

“If we don’t take care of that river, we’re all going to be in trouble.”

As forests and fields are converted into roads and roofs, toxic runoff becomes a more serious issue by the day.

“It’s coming off of agricultural fields, it’s coming off of dog parks, it’s coming off of infiltration and inflow in our sewer systems,” Jones tells us.

“And so, whenever have rain, we get this big influx of bacteria and pathogens.”

And the riverkeepers need your help to keep the water clean.

“We cannot cover this entire area. It’s 5,000 square miles, 26 counties, two states, so I need people to tell me, ‘Hey, there’s something wrong with my creek,’ so we can get out there, take more samples, and find a way to resolve that.”

But Brandon and his team aren’t going anywhere.

“We’re in it for the long haul, and that’s what it takes.”

For more information on how to help Brandon and the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, visit www.catawbariverkeeper.org.

The foundation’s headquarters is located in downtown McAdenville, complete with a bar and taproom.