Charlotte’s explosive growth is draining the Catawba River. Discover how Catawba County bears the burden—and what’s at stake for the next 25 years.
A Basin Under Strain: The Catawba River’s 25-Year Burden
For 25 years, Catawba County has watched Charlotte’s skyline soar, its tech hub boom, and its population swell to 2.5 million within a 50-mile radius, while the county’s 164,645 residents have borne the cost of fueling this growth. The Catawba River Basin, which supplies water to server farms and Interbasin Transfers (IBTs) that power Charlotte’s economy, has been pushed to its limits, often at the expense of Catawba County’s own future. Now, with the basin’s 255 billion gallons under strain, server farms in Maiden using 11 million gallons per day (MGD), and Charlotte requesting an IBT increase from 33 MGD to 63 MGD, the county faces a critical question: can it shift from being a resource hub to a true partner in the region’s growth, or will it lose out again in the next 25 years?
Spanning North Carolina and South Carolina, the Catawba River Basin supports over 2 million people across 11 reservoirs, but its capacity has been severely tested. During the 2007-2009 drought, Lake Norman dropped 6.3 feet below full pool, Hickory’s 40,000 residents faced strict rationing, and downstream South Carolina communities like Rock Hill reported fish kills and threats to the endangered Carolina Heelsplitter mussel as flows fell below 700 cubic feet per second (cfs). Today, the basin’s 650 MGD total withdrawals include 100 MGD for industrial users (15%), with server farms like Apple and Microsoft in Maiden drawing 11 MGD—80% of which (8.8 MGD) supports Charlotte’s tech economy, including Microsoft’s 2,000+ jobs there.
The IBT Battle: Charlotte’s Demand Sparks Regional Pushback
Charlotte’s 2024 request to increase its IBT to 63 MGD—an additional 30 MGD, enough for a city of 150,000—has reignited a 25-year battle over the Catawba River Basin’s finite resources. Combined with Concord and Kannapolis’ 10 MGD IBT, total transfers could reach 73 MGD, pushing the basin to its breaking point. The Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group (CWWMG), a coalition of 18 utilities including Hickory’s, projects sustainability through 2065 in its 2020 plan, but this projection fails to account for the 11 MGD used by server farms or Charlotte’s 63 MGD IBT request, leaving upstream communities vulnerable. Hickory Mayor Hank Guess captured local frustration in 2024, stating, “We need more say in how our water is managed.”
The CWWMG’s utility-focused approach, evident in its 2024 Water for All Summit in Morganton, has sidelined residents, despite Hickory’s seat on the board. In response, Catawba County leaders are fighting back. Commissioner Cole Setzer and Hickory City Council member Jill Patton shared The Paper Media’s March 2025 post on the IBT, rallying opposition. The Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) passed a 2024 resolution against Charlotte’s request, aligning with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, which is advocating for 2025 General Assembly legislation to make IBTs harder. This legislation, in the session that began January 8, 2025, could impose rigorous environmental assessments, public input, and drought contingency limits—potentially capping Charlotte at 40 MGD during extreme conditions, as with Concord-Kannapolis in 2010. South Carolina communities, represented by the Catawba Regional Council of Governments, also oppose the IBT, citing past ecosystem damage.
Server Farms and Economic Disparity: A Quiet Drain on Catawba County
While the IBT battle rages, the server farms’ 11 MGD usage remains a quiet drain on Catawba County’s resources, exacerbating an already stark economic disparity. Apple’s $1 billion Maiden facility, operational since 2010, uses 3 MGD (saving 0.3 MGD via recycled water), while Microsoft’s $1 billion Boyd Farms project, under construction, will use 8 MGD by 2025-2026. Catawba County offered substantial incentives—50% property tax abatements, $7 million and $10 million JDIG grants, and sales tax exemptions saving Apple $5 million and Microsoft $4-6 million annually—securing $6 million in annual tax revenue ($2 million from Apple, $4 million from Microsoft). Yet, the economic return is minimal, with only 300 jobs created (100 from Apple, 200 expected from Microsoft) at $60,000 salaries, compared to Charlotte’s tech jobs paying $80,000-$120,000.
This imbalance is glaring when contrasted with Catawba County’s broader economy, which includes 23,000 manufacturing and 2,495 tourism jobs (2023 figures). The county’s $5 billion manufacturing GDP and $50 million fishing industry, tied to Lake Norman, are at risk if water shortages intensify, as they did in 2007-2009 when Hickory faced rationing while Charlotte continued withdrawals. For 25 years, Catawba County has reacted defensively, missing opportunities to secure more jobs despite its 45-minute commute to Charlotte. Leaders could negotiate with Apple and Microsoft for 300-500 corporate jobs in Maiden, leveraging Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC), which serves 5,000 students and offers IT programs, to train locals for higher-paying tech roles.
A Path Forward: Balancing Growth with Water Sustainability
To break free from
its role as Charlotte’s resource hub, Catawba County must balance economic
growth with sustainable water management. The county can mandate a 20%
reduction in server farm freshwater usage (2.2 MGD) through greywater reuse or
advanced cooling, easing basin strain. Investing $5 million in leak
repairs—Charlotte reported 12% water loss in 2023—could save 2 MGD for
Hickory’s residents and industries. The WPCOG can press the CWWMG to update its
2020 plan, factoring in the 11 MGD and 63 MGD IBT, and advocate for drought limits
in the 2025 legislation. A regional water-sharing agreement, tying usage to
economic benefits—e.g., 100 jobs or $5 million in community projects per 10 MGD
withdrawn—could ensure Catawba County benefits from Charlotte’s growth, as
Lenoir did with Google’s $1 million STEM investment.
Attracting tech offices requires infrastructure improvements. Expanding broadband—only 70% of the county has 100 Mbps access, versus 90% in Charlotte—with a $10 million investment would connect 5,000 more households, supporting remote work and businesses. Widening US-321 to cut commute times to Charlotte by 10 minutes, a $15 million project, would position the county as an extension of Charlotte’s tech corridor, capitalizing on its low housing costs ($300,000 median versus $430,000 in Charlotte). A $1 million annual investment in CVCC coding bootcamps could prepare 200 residents for jobs paying $80,000-$120,000, boosting local growth. Without action, water shortages could cost manufacturing 2,000 jobs and $500 million in GDP, while environmental degradation could raise treatment costs by $20 million. The next 25 years demand a new approach, ensuring Catawba County isn’t left behind again.
Catawba Riverkeeper: https://www.catawbariverkeeper.org/
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NC DEQ’s Interbasin Transfer (IBT) Policies: https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-planning/water-supply-planning/interbasin-transfer-certification/ibt-rules-policies-regulations
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Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group's Integrated Water Resources Plan: https://catawbawatereewmg.org/our-work/water-resources-plan
This article asks and answers:
Can Catawba County Break Free from Being Charlotte’s Resource Hub?
How Charlotte’s Growth Pressures the Catawba River Basin
The Water War: Interbasin Transfers and Regional Pushback
Server Farms and Economic Inequality in Catawba County
What’s at Risk: Drought, Jobs, and the Future of the Basin
Solutions: Reclaiming Water Rights and Economic Power
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