Protecting Our Water
Clean, abundant water is good for the environment and good for
business. Power plants, jobs, drinking water, recreation, fisheries and
tourism depend on available water – but right now, there is no limit on
the amount of water that is taken from our rivers. Permitting how much
water can be taken is the first step for comprehensive planning and
long-term water management in South Carolina. S.452 and the companion
H.4285 would protect existing water users and maintain seasonal flows
in our rivers.
This year, both the Senate and House need to give water withdrawal
permitting their utmost attention and make two improvements to protect
future water supplies. First, grandfathered water users should apply
for permits after 25 years so the Departments of Health &
Environmental Control (DHEC) and Natural Resources (DNR) can consider
changes to environmental conditions or anticipated amounts of water
used by the permittees. Second, the loophole that exempts industries
and power plants from needing permits should be closed even though most
of the water they use is returned to the source. Doing so will ensure
that the largest water users in the state are included in the
permitting system.
Two additional bills would keep rivers clean from sewage spills and
malfunctioning wastewater plants. The Water Utility Notification bill
(H.3603) awaits consideration in the Senate and requires that the
public be informed by radio, television, newspaper, websites, and other
news sources within 12 hours of a 1,000 gallon spill from any
wastewater plant. A new “Three Strikes” bill would allow DHEC to crack
down on any wastewater treatment utility that has three major spills
within one year.