Town of Franklin Asks Residents to Observe Voluntary Water Restrictions

Under the direction from the NC Department of Environmental Quality, as of April 14, 2026, parts of 30 North Carolina counties, including Macon County, are in Extreme Drought (D3). According to Session Law 2008-143, each local government and large community water system must report weekly water use if they are in a county that contains an area of Extreme or Exceptional drought and implement conservation efforts within their Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP). Effective April 22, 2026, the Town of Franklin is asking citizens to voluntarily restrict water usage by 5%.

PRESS RELEASE (04-21-2026) TOWN OF FRANKLIN

Voluntary Water Restrictions to begin April 22, 2026

As of April 14, 2026 there are parts of 30 North Carolina counties in Extreme Drought (D3) including Macon County. According to Session Law 2008-143, each local government and large community water system must report weekly water use if they are in a county that contains an area of Extreme or Exceptional drought and implement conservation efforts within their Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP). The Town of Franklin is asking citizens to voluntarily restrict the amount of water being used effective April 22, 2026. Due to the lack of rain, water levels in Cartoogechaye Creek at the inflow to the water treatment plant are below normal and this has triggered a Stage 1 voluntary water restriction.

In accordance with the Town of Franklin’s WSRP, a stage 1 voluntary water restriction means that all water users are being asked to reduce their normal water use by 5%. Examples of ways to voluntarily restrict water use can include eliminating of washing vehicles, waiting to wash clothes until you have a full load, checking for leaks or toilets that may be running or use of dishwashers, limiting watering or irrigating outdoor landscapes.

The Town is asking for citizen cooperation by limiting the use of water, when possible, until there is enough precipitation to raise water levels and reduce fire danger.

Any updates related to the water restrictions will be forwarded to the media and posted on the Town’s website and the Town, Police and Fire social media pages.

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Published at 4.30am on Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins

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Voluntary Water Restrictions Lifted in Franklin

PRESS RELEASE (122-12-2023)

TOWN OF FRANKLIN

Voluntary Water Restrictions Lifted

With the rainfall received over the weekend, the levels for inflow are back within normal limits and all water restrictions have been lifted.

The Town of Franklin asked citizens to voluntarily restrict the amount of water being used beginning on Friday, October 6, 2023. Due to the lack of rain, water levels in Cartoogechaye Creek at the inflow to the water treatment plant were below normal and triggered a Stage 1 voluntary water restriction.

The Town asked for citizen cooperation by limiting the use of water, when possible, until there was enough precipitation to raise water levels.

“We appreciate the citizens taking the necessary steps to assist in water conservation during the driest time of this year,” said Amie Owens, Town Manager.   

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Town of Franklin Extands Voluntary Water Restrictions Through November 16, 2022

PRESS RELEASE (11-14-2022)
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Voluntary Water Restrictions to continue through November 16, 2022

The Town of Franklin is asking citizens to voluntarily restrict the amount of water being used through November 16, 2022. While there has been measurable rainfall totals, water levels in Cartoogechaye Creek at the inflow to the water treatment plant are still slightly below normal and the Stage 1 voluntary water restriction remains in place.

In accordance with the Town of Franklin’s Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP), a stage 1 voluntary water restriction means that all water users are being asked to reduce their normal water use by 5%. Examples of ways to voluntarily restrict water use can include eliminating of washing vehicles, waiting to wash clothes until you have a full load, checking for leaks or toilets that may be running or use of dishwashers, limiting watering or irrigating outdoor landscapes. The Town is asking for citizen cooperation by limiting the use of water, when possible, until there is enough precipitation to raise water levels. We are hopeful that the weather event predicted on Tuesday will be enough to keep levels at or above normal heading into the Thanksgiving holiday.

Any updates related to the water restrictions will be forwarded to the media and posted on the Town’s website and the Town, Police and Fire social media pages.

DAY SPONSORSHIP

Young Tree Service
828-421-0967

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Scenes along the Little Tennessee and Cullasaja Rivers

Between two and three inches of rain fell in Macon County on January 13th, 14th and 15th and here are a few photos and some video clips of what I observed as I drove through the Oak Grove, Cowee and Cullasaja communities, with a heavy emphasis on the very dramatic rapids and falls along the Cullasaja River Gorge.




A link to view the slideshow full screen.

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Little Tennessee River September 18, 2012

The Little Tennessee River just above the town bridge after a period of heavy rain over the past few days.

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Gone Fishing

Not really, but the sentiment is the same. I'll be behind the scenes, trying to catch up on editing video from meetings I've been unable to post the video for in the past few weeks without having to worry about adding posts here simultaneously.

Regular posting will resume on late Sunday or early Monday.


Don't forget to make plans to attend the Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday morning at the Veterans Memorial Park on US441 next to the Community Facilities Building at the Veterans Memorial. The ceremony begins at 11am followed by a BBQ held by the American Legion Post 108. Bring a chair.

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Variations on a Reflection

Variations on processing a recent photo I took of Little Tennessee Rive in the Franklin Greenway along the Morris Trace. Clicking on the images will open a new tab or window to a larger version.

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Reflections

The Little Tennessee River along the Greenway in Franklin, NC.

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Lefties Whine About Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rabun County

The Rabun County, Ga. Board of Commissioners called a special meeting on Monday, March 9, to inform newly-elected board members of the status of the former Fruit of the Loom textile plant. (Newly-elected commissioners Katheryn Granberg, Will Nichols and Tom Garrison joined Max Watts and Chairman Virgil Kilby on the board.) The county is planning a new municipal water plant on the site and is in the process of getting permits from the Environmental Protection Division. A discharge permit was applied for in February, and a 30-day public comment period for the permit will be announced soon.

The county purchased the water and sewer treatment facilities of the former Rabun Apparel, Fruit of the Loom plant in Rabun Gap in December 2007. Gibbs International of Spartanburg, S.C. bought the textile plant after Fruit of the Loom closed in 2006. Gibbs buys vacant plants to resell them. An agreement was made by Rabun County with Merrill Trust (the developers of Sky Valley Resort) for wastewater treatment.

Source: Macon County News (read the article for more info)
Hat Tip: Don Yelton (via email)

Commentary

Lefties are going to oppose this, and they are going to try to trick as many "Republicans" as possible to help them kill a possible source for new jobs for the people of Rabun County and Macon County.

The Rabun Fruit of the Loom plant employed many hundreds of Maconians, and when the plant was shut down, it hurt thousands of people in our county, including businesses that benefited from employees who spent money in our area.

Now, there is a chance that the site could be rehabilitated, and a new industry attracted to the area...or at the very least, infrastructure could be built up for Rabun County that would support an increase in population and new businesses that would benefit them, and by extension us.

The agenda of these lefties is to raise the cost of building the Waste water Treatment Plant beyond what is affordable so that the plan will be abandoned. This is a classic Alinsky Tactic and must be opposed by all right-thinking, reasonable people.

Download a pdf of the draft permit.



Here is a portion of the plan that the opposition to this plant are implementing (from the Little Tennessee Watershed Association website):

30 day Comment Period on Fruit of the Loom Plant now open!!

For over a year, we have been bringing you news of Rabun County's plans to convert the former Fruit of the Loom plant in Rabun Gap, Georgia to a municipal waste treatment plant. They have applied for their permit to dump 2 million gallons of treated sewage per day into the Little Tennessee River and that permit is now open for public comment.

***To review the draft permit, please click on the link at the bottom of this page and download the PDF file.***

Please submit a letter to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division with at least the following three requests no later than April 13, 2009:

1. Rabun County plans to use a chlorine treatment system. Please request that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division require that an Ultraviolet (UV) Treatment process be put into operation to ensure that the water quality will be good enough for the Town of Franklin to use as an alternative water supply and to protect aquatic life.

2. The State of Georgia just completed a Statewide Water Plan that outlines impacts to consider before an interbasin transfer of water is completed. Please request that these guidelines be written directly into Rabun County’s discharge permit.

3. Please request that the Georgia EPD hold a formal public hearing so that all of the various concerns and questions can be adequately addressed.

Mail your written comments to and make sure to reference Draft Permit #GA0039152:

Georgia Environmental Protection Division
Attention: Jane Hendricks
4220 International Park Dr., Suite 101
Atlanta, GA 30354

It is best to submit your comments in writing to the EPD to make sure that they become a part of the official record. To read background information, click on the "news" tab (above) and browse past LTWA newsletters, available as a PDF.

There is so much more that you can do with your request! Please click here for a more elaborate description of suggested talking points and for a list of additional people to send copies of your comments to.

I suggest that you counter their effort by writing in support of the construction of the plant, and state the economic need of the plant for the area as I have stated earlier in this post, and add additional ideas of your own.

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Asheville Water System Woes Continue

I for one am glad that effective control of the Asheville Water System has been transferred to authorities other than the City of Asheville. The children on the Asheville City Council have demonstrated that they cannot take care of it, nor should they be trusted with pricing authority because of their unfair plan to treat people outside the city limits differently than the people inside the city limits.

Here is the latest letter from City Councilman Carl Mumpower (spelling as is received):

Asheville Water System Compromise Proposal

Submitted to the Mayor and Council

April 3, 2009

What Are the Current Realities?

Asheville owns the Asheville City Water System.  Control, and thus realistic ownership, has been legislatively taken by local representatives and the courts have validated the right of the state to seize the city system.  The courts have validated they have the right, but not that this action is right.  The Mayor and Asheville City Council majority are in the process of completing the surrender of a city water system currently valued at over 1 billion dollars.

Why is a Compromise Plan Appropriate?

1) Senator Nesbitt, Senator Apodaca, Representative Goforth, and Representative Fisher have legislatively wrested control of Asheville's City water system through Sullivan Acts II & III.

2) These Acts are being uniquely applied to Asheville -- if they are fair, then they should be universally applied to Weaverville to our North and Hendersonville to our South as well as other cities across WNC and NC.

3) The only pieces of the water system in contention are a few of the lines outside of the city limits -- the remained of the system is clearly in the hands of city residents.

4) The city does not need to take action at present -- city leadership has the option of waiting until our legislators change their minds about treating Asheville unfairly or the people of Asheville change their minds and elect new legislative representation supportive of fairness.

5) City leadership is about to surrender our water assets for less than a penny on the dollar.

What is a Realistic Compromise Plan?

Plan One -- Treat Asheville like all other cities in North Carolina owing their water system and take 5, 10, or more years to implement that plan of fairness with consideration for city tax payers carrying a double taxation burden and county residents who cannot afford draconian water rates.

Plan Two -- Remove the resoviors from the system.  Transfer ownership of the water lines and delivery system to a regional authority - encourage Weaverville, Hendersonville, Black Mountain, Waynesville, Canton and other cities to join this new regional water delivery system.  The citizens of Asheville and other cities owning their resovioirs would then be free to use this resource to help compensate for their high urban tax rates.

There are no circumstances under which a one billion dollar asset should be stolen or surrendered without public and media watchdog outcry.  The actions surrounding Asheville City owned water system are no exception.

Submitted:

Carl Mumpower
Asheville City Council

###

NC Representative Buruce Goforth has introduced amendments to the Sullivan Act as follows:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 702*

 

 

Short Title:        Amendments to the Sullivan Act.		(Local)
Sponsors:	Representatives Goforth, Whilden, and Fisher (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:	Local Government I, if favorable, Water Resources and Infrastructure.

March 23, 2009

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE SULLIVAN ACT, AND TO ALLOW THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE TO USE REVENUES FOR STREET AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH WATERLINE IMPROVEMENTS.

Whereas, the General Assembly previously adopted Chapter 399 of the 1933 Public‑Local Laws (known as the "Sullivan Act") to address the particular circumstances of the supplying of water to certain residents of Buncombe County by the City of Asheville and the charges therefor; and

Whereas, the 2005 General Assembly made further amendments to the Sullivan Act with the enactment of S.L. 2005‑139 and S.L. 2005‑140; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The City of Asheville may use up to five percent (5%) of utility revenues for street and sidewalk improvements associated with waterline improvements.

SECTION 2.  This act makes further amendments to the Sullivan Act.

SECTION 3.  This act applies to the City of Asheville only.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

Source: General Assembly H702

Related: S.L 2005-139  aka Sullivan I

Related: S.L. 2005-140 aka Sullivan II

If Asheville could be trusted not to use the moneys raised from the water system for pet projects unrelated to running the water system instead of maintaining and improving it, then it would be a different story altogether. 

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Edenton Water Quality Meeting Videos

I found these little gems of information via an email sent out by Don Yelton of a meeting held in Edenton, NC last week. I have embedded all nine videos into a playlist in what I think is the proper chronological order:

Here is a quote from Fern Shubert I found on the WNCT-TV website:

I’m just reporting what others have said that seems worthy of discussion. For example, a 1995 report by the EPA on the PCS mine in Aurora says in “the early 1970s, a ground water monitoring study conducted by the state detected levels of arsenic, cadmium, and lead above the Federal Primary Drinking Water Standards” and the Coastal Federation in 2001 said “decades of mining have caused levels of cadmium in reclaimed soils and ponds to concentrate at more than 300 times background levels.”

An August 2007 Conference Report prepared by The Nicholas Institute at Duke University notes that “North Carolina’s coast is among the most vulnerable . . .[because]  Over 1.2 million acres in North Carolina are below one meter in elevation. Further, North Carolina’s coastal sea level rise is effectively double the global average because of land subsidence at the coast.”

PotashCorporation’s 2007 financial statements say “The USEPA has notified the company of various alleged violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act at the company’s
Aurora and White Springs plants. The company and other industry members have met with representatives of the US Department of Justice, USEPA and various state environmental agencies regarding potential resolution of these matters. . . The company is uncertain if any resolution will be possible without litigation, or, if litigation occurs, what the outcome would be.”

Previously:


Don Yelton Gives Pep Talk Down East

Water in Eastern North Carolina Endangered?

How Hard Is This Puzzle? A Guest Commentary by Fern Shubert

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Don Yelton Gives Pep Talk Down East

Don Yelton, perpetual gadfly to corrupt government officials, has given a pep talk to some of the folks down east who have been dealing with corruption in their local and state government in refence to pollutants in their water supply:

Previously:

Water in Eastern North Carolina Endangered?

How Hard Is This Puzzle? A Guest Commentary by Fern Shubert

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Water in Eastern North Carolina Endangered?

Last Thursday, I ran a guest commentary by Fern Shubert entitled, "How Hard Is This Puzzle? " that reported on the problems with water some people are experiencing in the eastern part of the state. Now there is this piece of news from WNCT-TV located in Greenville, North Carolina:

Members of Chowan County’s Republican Party, state ecologists and former state Senator Fern Shubert blame a combination of things for it.

One of the biggest has been drought.

They also say the way land is being used, heavy metals in fields, water testing, and sink holes add to the concern.

The environmentally conscious group made their point during a meeting held last week in Chowan County.

Hat Tip: Don Yelton

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Reflections

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Relections

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