Drought lingers

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford is encouraging the state to voluntarily conserve water.

"As this situation continues, we believe it is incredibly important for all South Carolinians to take individual initiative in doing what they can to conserve water," he said in a recent press statement. "We urge citizens to do what they can at home or at work to impact their own water usage."

As of Tuesday, all South Carolina counties, with the exception of two, remain under severe drought conditions. Jasper and Beaufort Counties' drought conditions are classified as moderate.

This week's rainfall, although widespread, will provide only temporary relief to the drought-stricken state, Wes Tyler, with the state climatologtist, said.

"It would take an extended period of rainfall to make a difference," he said. "In a sloping elevation, rain rates of one-half to one-inch of rainfall per hour tends to have a lot of run-off," he said. "Surface conditions improve greatly after a slow rain over a period of time."

During October, Pickens County reported receiving .97 inches of rainfall, with .31 inches of that falling this week, Tyler said.

"The biggest benefit of this rainfall is the reduction of a wildfire threat," he said. "Of course, with leaves on the ground, and the extremely dry conditions, the possibility of wildfires has been on the minds of many."

Although the recent rains will do little to impact the severe drought conditions, the precipitation is encouraging, Tyler said.

"This is encouraging," he said. "There is a chance of rain for the remaining work week, however, it's scattered, at best. Still, this is a welcome change."

State Senator Larry Martin said that the continuing drought is a serious problem.

"Both of our neighboring states are really suffering from drought-related problems," he said. "And with South Carolina, sitting between them, we can't help but wonder, 'are we next?'"

Martin said that Georgia, particularly Atlanta, is suffering from the effects of drought seeming more so than other areas.

"I recently read that Atlanta has only about a 90-day supply of water," he said.

And although Georgia is entitled to draw certain amounts of water from the Savannah River Basin and Hartwell Lake, which borders both Georgia and South Carolina, their state law prohibits inter-basin transfers, he said.

"Their state legislature would have to pass laws allowing them to use inter-basis transfers," he said. "So, at present, we don't have to be concerned with wither or not Georgia is eyeing our water resources."

In addition, Pickens County is one of 33 counties in South Carolina that has been designated as an area of natural disaster by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a report issued by Third District Congressman Gresham Barrett said.

According to the report, the USDA reviewed damage assessment reports and concluded there was "sufficient production losses in all 33 counties" in the state, making eligible farmers able to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

"A drought of this magnitude not only brings damage to the soil but can make or break family livelihood for the next few generations," Barrett said in a press statement, adding that the emergency loans would not only assist in the losses of this season, but could aid in limiting the negative effects of this year's drought on next years production.