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CLEMSON - As debate over the state's water resources continues, and worries over the Upstate's continuing drought mount, residents had a chance to speak face to face with state legislator on water issues throughout South Carolina.
Members of the state Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee traveled through the state last month to hold public forums on water and energy, stopping in Clemson Tuesday night for the final meeting.
While the coast has returned to normal conditions, the Upstate has seen no relief from recent rains, said Drennan Park with the Department of Natural Resources.
While there has been a 5 to 20 percent increase in precipitation in the state since 1900, the Upstate has seen a 5-10 percent decrease in precipitation during the same time period, he said.
Attendees agreed legislators must create a comprehensive water plan that would address the state's water issues and resources in the long-term, not just in the present shortage.
Other states have drawn up such plans and created water management offices, said Mike
Massey, the former president of the Lark Hartwell Association.
Ideally, such an office in South Carolina would be overseen by DHEC or DNR and sub-offices would be set to regulate each of the state's water basins, he said.
"That would stop you legislators from having to become experts on water every time an issue came up," Massey said. "You should have an organization whose responsibility is to develop that water plan and to manage it once it's been developed."
Not having a water plan puts the state at a distinct disadvantage as it negotiates over water rights with over states, he said.
As they considered future water use, legislators should give use of water for health and public safety the highest priority, said Frank Eskridge with the Greenville Water System.
"That's not to say there are other uses that are not important," he said. "But the drought legislation that's being considered already has this built it."
Such legislation would enable water systems to ensure water usage for decades to come, in addition to increasing the state's water negotiating power.
John Westcott with the Spartanburg Water System agreed.
"We believe that the water legislation is inevitable and it's necessary," he said.
But tourism and industrial leaders don't want to be pushed away from the table regarding water.
The watering of golf courses may seem frivolous in a drought, but golf represents a huge financial boon to the state as a whole, said Paul Brandenburg, Furman University golf course superintendent and a board of the Carolina Golf Course Superintendent Association.
"We are fully committed to the effective and efficient use of golf courses," he said. "We realize that as the population of SC increases with more businesses, there's going to be more strains on the water supply."
Golf courses represent a large portion of the state's tourist industry, with an economic impact of $2.3 billion annually.
"Any water restrictions, water cuts, drastically impacts tax revenues," he said. "We want to be involved in any decision making restricting water use."
A balance must be struck between protecting the environment and natural resources and promoting economic development, said Lewis Gossett, president of the SC
Manufacturer's Alliance.
"(Water) is a limited resource," he said. "Your job is going to be very tough this next year because you have to balance between protecting that resource and also encouraging economic prosperity."
Many of the state's heavy industries really on water, Gossett said.
"If the supply's not adequate, they can't rely it, and if they can't rely on it, they won't come here," he said. "If the regulations put into place this year or in any future years are too onerous, not only will they not come here, the ones we have now will leave. We simply can't afford that."
The comments made at the meeting will be added to the body of work on water being collected by the committee.
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