The crowd enjoyed food and drinks, signed petitions, recorded a video petition, and heard from a variety of speakers, including the Western North Carolina Alliance's French Broad Riverkeeper, Hartwell Carson, who explained that one of the biggest threats to our clean water is coal ash pollution - the waste from burning coal for electricity.

"Monitoring at Progress Energy's two coal ash ponds in Asheville shows toxic heavy metals are polluting the French Broad River, leaching into our groundwater, contaminating fish, and coating nearby homes with fugitive coal ash dust," Carson said.

Terry Clark, of Physicians for Social Responsibility, detailed the impacts of coal ash to human health and the environment.

"The toxins in coal ash have been linked to an increase in cancer rates, respiratory illness, and problems with neurological development," Clarks said. "Coal ash pollution can also harm animals, especially fish and amphibians."

Both of Asheville's pond dams are listed by the EPA as "high hazard," meaning if either dam fails there would likely be loss of life. This particular danger came to national attention in December 2008, when a dam failed at a Kingston, Tenn., coal ash pond, flooding the Clinch and Emory rivers with a billion gallons of toxic coal ash.

In 1993, the United Nations established March 22 as World Water Day to focus public attention on the importance of clean water and the need to sustainably manage water resources.

"World Water Day is a great day to come together as a community and remind elected officials, state and federal agencies, and Progress Energy that clean water is a right, not a privilege," said Sandra Diaz of Appalachian Voices. "Unfortunately, Progress Energy's pollution threatens our access to clean water - but the people of Western North Carolina are ready to take action."

The cookout and rally were co-hosted by WNCA and Appalachian Voices. Participating organizations were Clean Water for North Carolina, NC Interfaith Power and Light, and the WENOCA chapter of the Sierra Club. Supporting organizations included: American Rivers, Asheville PARC, Canary Coalition, Earthjustice, Mountain Voices Alliance, NC Conservation Network, NC WARN, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

(Image provided by Flickr user mygothlaundry.)

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