2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan - Pitt County Government

Because demand for water exceeds the safe yields of the Black Creek and Upper CapeFear aquifers, other sources of water must be brought on line by water supply systems.Surface water sources and other aquifers must be used to meet this deficit.Major ConcernsWater levelsMonitoring wells specifically designed to track water levels in the Black Creek anddeclines of one to eight feet per year. Those monitoring wells are distributedthroughout an 8,000 square mile area of the Central Coastal Plain.DewateringWater levels from water supply systems in several of these counties show water leveldraw downs below the top of the aquifer by as much as 200 feet. These draw downs,also known as de-watering, are known to cause irreparable harm to the aquifer's abilityto yield water.Current and projected water useCurrent and projected water use reported through the Local Water Supply Planningprocess considered in conjunction with water use by other users have been comparedto the estimated safe yield from the Black Creek and Upper Cape Fear aquifers.Projections through the year 2020 indicate a growing deficit Upper Cape Fear aquifersshow water level draw down trends ranging from in water supply.Land SubsidenceThe National Geodetic Survey has completed studies of land surface elevation data at86 geodetic monuments along a transect from Raleigh to New Bern. In general theground elevation falls from about 328 feet elevation in Raleigh to near sea level in NewBern. Total subsidence in the Kinston to New Bern area increased from 5.5 inchesbetween 1935-1968 to 8.7 inches from 1968- 1979.Studies indicate that the speed of subsidence per year increased dramatically from the1935-1968 study period to the 1968-1979 study period. The greatest deviation occurredin the Cove City area in Craven County where the subsidence increased from 0.17 inchesper year to 0.25 inches per year. This is explained by New Bern bringing the Cove Citywater supply wells on line in the late 1960s. Higher rates of land subsidence areassociated with higher ground water withdrawal rates.2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan Appendix A: Inventory and AnalysisPitt County, North Carolina A-70