Jonesville and county's plan to upgrade water plant benefits both parties

In 1989, Yadkin officials published a feasibility study about the best way to begin a county water system. The engineers concluded then that Yadkin should work with Jonesville to upgrade its water-treatment plant since Jonesville got its raw water from the most plentiful natural resource in the area — the Yadkin River.

Unfortunately, the plan got shelved and it wasn't until a decade or so later that Yadkin commissioners once again began talking about a county water system. Another study was commissioned and it produced the same conclusion: Yadkin should gets its water from Jonesville, the only local government entity in the county with a state permit to draw water from the Yadkin River.

Now that process is actually underway with Yadkin commissioners and the Jonesville council collaborating on a proposal that will benefit the town and the county. County Manager Eric Wilhelm and Jonesville Councilman Gene Pardue said that recent meetings between the two local governments have been productive. That's important to note since it wasn't that long ago when turfism on both sides often prevented two local governments working together for the greater good and the public's long-term interest.

Even though Yadkin is surrounded to the north and east by the Yadkin River, state environmental officials have made it pretty clear that they won't allow another major intake on the Upper Yadkin basin. Already, in addition to Jonesville, King and the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities Commission have large water treatment plants on the neighboring Forsyth County side of the river.

That's why it makes sense now for the county to assist Jonesville in an upgrade of its existing plant so that the town and Yadkin can be assured of a long-term reliable water resource.

Even Commissioner Brady Wooten, who often spars with Chairwoman Kim Phillips on a variety of topics, agrees that the collaboration is a good idea.

"We've had a lot of cooperation between both boards and we're eager to move forward and make this work," Wooten said Monday night. "This is good for Yadkin County and good for Jonesville."

We applaud Jonesville and Yadkin officials for looking at the big picture and realizing that a project of this magnitude — quite possibly one of the most important in this generation when it comes to the preservation and availability of a clean and reliable source of water — is something that all of us need and support. We need only look to the Catawba River or further south along the Yadkin in Stanly County to realize that political lines are already being drawn over water rights. That's why we support the proactive measures taken by Jonesville and Yadkin officials who are making sure our water tap never runs dry.