A pipeline connecting Wilson's water system to Rocky Mount, north of Elm City, was finished last year and set to send water to Rocky Mount if the Tar River Reservoir reached critical levels.
A second waterline from the N.C. 97 and N.C. 58 intersection and down N.C. 58 to Silver Lake is almost complete. The line will allow Wilson, Rocky Mount and Nash County to send or receive water in an emergency.
So far this year, none of the communities has been strapped for water, even though reserve water levels are being watched closely.
"The reservoir has been rising, and that's from the recent rain," said Steven Raper, Rocky Mount;s city manager. "It's almost full. We're in a little better shape this year."
Rocky Mount, where water reserves nearly dried up last year, is benefiting from recent rainfall flowing from Louisburg, northwest of Rocky Mount. Raper said in mid-June that the Tar River Reservoir was overflowing but dropping due to ongoing drought conditions.
"Right now, my understanding is they're doing fine," said Brian Bowman, Wilson's public affairs and marketing manager. "We haven't received any requests from them for help this summer."
During last year's drought, Rocky Mount, Nash County and other communities across the state scrambled to find alternative water sources. That process led to the construction of the emergency pipeline north of Elm City that connects Rocky Mount to Wilson's water supply. The city of Wilson agreed to sell Rocky Mount up to 2 million gallons of water each day at a drought-assistance rate for the first 90 days and a wholesale rate thereafter.
The second line, which is 95 percent finished, is the main line that will be used for Rocky Mount. The other water line north of Elm City will be used as a backup source, Bowman said.
"It should come online sometime in the fall," Bowman said. "The line on N.C. 58 is easier. It requires a lot less work, and we can get the water pumped quicker. We'll leave the (other line) as a backup source. The good news is there's no need for it now."
The city of Wilson's ability to supply water to other communities was proven last year when lakes, rivers and reservoirs dried up across the region, and Wilson's Buckhorn Reservoir remained stocked with billions of gallons of water.
At its worst last year, Buckhorn Lake dropped 4 feet below its 7 billion capacity. The lake still held close to a year's worth of water supply. The lake recharged during the winter and hit its overflow peak in February. As of today, the lake was 3 inches below capacity.
The city's other water reserves in Lake Wilson, Wiggins Mill and the Toisnot Reservoir are either full or near capacity, Bowman said.
Wilson was in a moderate drought last week, even though other neighboring counties slipped into severe drought status by July 1, according to the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council. Nash, Johnston and Wayne counties were in a severe drought, which is the second worst of four drought categories on the drought monitor, before last weekend's rains.
Wilson and Wilson County officials are still asking the public to voluntarily conserve water. The N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council requests the following measures be taken for communities experiencing a moderate drought:
* Adhere to local water use restrictions.
* Participate in regional and local coordination for the management of water resources.
* Stay informed on drought conditions and advisories, including www.ncdrought.org.
* Project water needs and available water supply for a 90-day period from the issuance of this advisory.
* Assess your vulnerability to the drought conditions and adjust water usage to prolong available supply.
* Inspect water delivery system components -- irrigation lines, fixtures, processing equipment, water system lines -- and repair leaks and ensure that existing equipment is operating efficiently.
* Minimize nonessential uses of water.
* Implement available public awareness and educational outreach programs emphasizing the need to conserve water.
rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818