Rural areas lack water and sewer; water 'peace talks' possible, say state leaders

Published: October 10, 2012

COLUMBIA — Water plays a vital role in economic development and the stakes are high when it comes to who gets to set rules regarding water quantity and quality. Two state officials with sizable roles in South Carolina’s water roles spoke Wednesday to nearly 300 attendees at the S.C. Water Resources Conference at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. 

Bobby Hitt, state commerce secretary said that 37 of the state’s 46 counties have inadequate water and sewer resources to attract high-paying businesses. The Commerce Department, Hitt said, uses federal and state money to make improvements in rural areas, where some places have not seen good-paying jobs in 300 years.

"When the well is dry, we know the worth of water," Hitt said, quoting Ben Franklin.

Whether drought or use reduces water resources, the competition for water is fierce. South Carolina and Georgia have an ongoing feud — some call it a water war — over the water in the Savannah River.

"Water peace talks" may be close, said Catherine Templeton, director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, who spoke at lunch. She said she is optimistic that Georgia environmental officials are ready to talk seriously.

Measuring water quantity and quality is important to figuring how to share the valuable resource. Templeton said the department’s goal is to assess the water and give the science-based information to stakeholders – residents, industries, utilities, farmers and governments – so that they can determine how to manage water.  

More than 300 political leaders, environmental officials, scientists and engineers from academia and industry are registered to attend the 2012 South Carolina Water Resources Conference Wednesday and Thursday at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

“We are very pleased that Mr. Hitt and Ms. Templeton could speak on the first day. On day two, a legislative panel led by state Sen. Paul Campbell will speak in the morning and Col. Alvin Taylor, director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, will present at lunch,” said Gene Eidson, conference co-chairman and director of the Clemson University Institute of Applied Ecology.

"Each has his or her own perspective on the issue, but over all, the message will be that we need to work together — to collaborate — to ensure that South Carolina has the quantity and quality of water we need for a healthy and prosperous future,” he said.

The 2012 conference theme is “Exploring Opportunities for Collaborative Water Research, Policy and Management” and is focused on meeting environmental and economic needs for this vital limited resource.

There are 30 breakout sessions in five tracks with 90 presenters from the state’s universities, federal and state agencies, environmental engineering consultants and municipalities. Tracks include water policy and planning, river basin and stream systems, stormwater management, water-use management and permitting, and water quality and monitoring.

The complete conference schedule is available online at www.scwaterconference.org. The plenary sessions are being streamed on the website.

The conference is coordinated by Clemson University’s Center for Watershed Excellence in conjunction with a statewide planning committee. Its purpose is to provide an open forum to discuss water policies and share research and innovative ideas for effective water management to provide water resources needed to grow South Carolina’s economy, while preserving its natural resources.

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