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One Glass for Two People

A Case of Water Use Rights in the Eastern United States

By Jeffrey A. Steinmetz, Reed M. Perkins

One Glass for Two People


 

Abstract

This case study focuses on the growing issue of water use rights in the southeastern United States. Approximately 1.3 million people in North and South Carolina depend on the Catawba-Wateree River for water and electricity. The river is also important for recreation and real estate development.  To meet growing water demands, elected officials in Concord and Kannapolis, NC, petitioned their state government to approve an inter-basin transfer (IBT) of 25 million gallons of water a day from the Catawba River. Other towns in North Carolina and South Carolina that are part of the Catawba-Wateree watershed fought this request for water transfer. For this exercise, students are divided into teams that take the role of different stakeholders trying to negotiate a settlement to this lawsuit. In the course of the debate, students address fundamental legal, ethical, and environmental questions about water use.

   

Date Posted

08/31/2011

Overview

Objectives

  • Define the following terms: watershed, water transfer, inter-basin transfer.
  • List and describe the different sources of water, including surface water and groundwater.
  • List and describe the major ways that humans use water.
  • Be able to explain the difference between riparian rights and prior appropriation.
  • Be able to articulate a position on whether water should be transferred between basins in the present case and defend that position with specific facts.

Keywords

Water; water rights; water management; water conflicts; freshwater; environmental ethics; South Carolina; North Carolina

  

Subject Headings

Earth Science
Environmental Science
Hydrology
Limnology
Natural Resource Management

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

Ethics, Legal issues, Regulatory issues, Scientific argumentation

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Debate, Dilemma/Decision, Discussion, Role-Play, Student Presentations

 

 

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