WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — WaterSC, a group designed to manage and preserve our state’s water resources, held their first meeting to discuss the future of water in South Carolina.
“We really need all South Carolinians to be thinking about water and they are significant not only in giving us feedback on our water plan, but they're also part of the solution,” Myra Reece, the chair of WaterSC, said.
The newly formed group met for the first time Wednesday afternoon to discuss a plan to improve and develop the state’s water plan.
“It's so important for us to engage as many South Carolinians as we can. It's so important that we have so many needs and uses for our water resources, and at the same time, we need to manage those appropriately so that we protect our most valuable resource,” Reece said.
The group has members representing several state agencies, including, environmental services, commerce, agriculture and tourism.
“Our ultimate goal is for having collaborative leaders coming together, getting that stakeholder input, and then finding that common ground and ultimately leading to a strategy or water plan for South Carolina,” Reece said.
By the end of January, the group will provide a report to the General Assembly’s surface water study committee informing them of the current state of surface water and recommending changes to current laws. This is to make sure sustainable water withdrawal practices are being used.
The group will also assist the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services with a water resource policy for the state so the department can update the state’s water plan.
“Our next phase is really how do we manage the water for the next 40, 50, 100 years, so that we can use the data that we have today and continue to increase populations, continue to increase economic development, but still not over stress our aquifers and our streams to a point where we're causing detrimental harm," Rob Devlin said.
The state’s current water plan was initially created in 1998 and was last updated in 2004.
"Our plan is to come up with ideas and recommendations on how to conserve water, and come up with new ways of recycling and reusing the different aquifers in stream water," Devlin said.
Governor Henry McMaster was in attendance saying the ultimate goal is to protect our state's water resources for years to come.
“With the velocity the change is coming, the expansion, the pressures on development, the pressures for everything. We are right here at the right time to take the right steps to see that this state remains the most beautiful place in the whole country,” McMaster said.
The group’s next meeting is tentatively set for November 20th.