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Jason Hardin reports on yesterday's water summit at Pinecroft Sedgefield Fire Department. The meeting, led by Gov. Easley, gave an indication of some of the large questions that must be addressed as the state faces possible water shortages ahead.

One is sharing. Some cities are much better supplied with water than others. To what extent should the state "encourage" them to help supply neighbors?

Of course, financial considerations provide a certain amount of encouragement. Cities with excess supplies can make a lot of money selling water. They could be expected to charge premium rates.

At some point, however, even those cities might feel the need to hold back for a non-rainy day. They might resent suggestions that they should part with more of their reserves than they think prudent, especially if they think they've planned or managed better than their drier buyers.

So, when it comes to water, should all communities in North Carolina climb into the same boat, or float or run aground on their own?

Update, Jan. 16: Here's our editorial, published today.

After deadline yesterday, I received a call from Renee Hoffman in the governor's office responding to my question about what he could do, hypothetically, to compel one community to share water with another experiencing a crisis. She said the governor's emergency powers allow him to do whatever is necessary to ensure public health and safety.

That presents interesting possibilities, doesn't it?