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Preserving Water Resources: Public Asked to Provide Input on Water Use Planning at WaterSC Listening Sessions in St. Helena Island, Greenville and Florence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 1, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolinians are asked to offer input and ideas about protecting and managing the state's natural water resources during upcoming WaterSC Listening Sessions. Public engagement is a critical component of WaterSC, a statewide initiative to help plan for the long-term preservation of South Carolina’s water resources.
As demand for water use increases due to record-breaking economic development and population growth in South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster established the WaterSC Water Resources Working Group in September 2024.
WaterSC brings together collaborators from around the state to guide planning for South Carolina’s water resources and balance the State’s economic and environmental needs. Stakeholder participants represent public water suppliers, agriculture, forestry, industry, recreation, conservation, energy, academia and more, with the S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) serving as the lead coordinating agency of WaterSC.
Members of the public discuss water use planning with WaterSC representatives at a WaterSC Listening Session held in January. Residents are invited to attend upcoming listening sessions to provide input about the long-term preservation of South Carolina’s water resources.
"We encourage residents to use these listening sessions as opportunities to directly engage with WaterSC representatives and learn how multiple sectors are coming together to take a united approach to water preservation," said Myra Reece, SCDES Interim Director and Chair of WaterSC. "Water is a shared resource for all of us, which is why we want South Carolinians to be active partners in water planning in our state.”
The listening sessions will take place:
- Tuesday, April 8, 6-8 p.m., Penn Center, 16 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, St. Helena Island
- Wednesday, April 9, 6-8 p.m., Clemson University's Pee Dee Research & Education Center, 2200 East Pocket Road, Florence
- Thursday, April 10, 6-8 p.m., Greenville ReWa (Renewable Water Resources), 560 Mauldin Road, Greenville
Residents can submit questions or comments at any time to the WaterSC Resources Working Group by emailing WaterSC@des.sc.gov or completing the online form available at des.sc.gov/WaterSC.
To learn more about WaterSC, review previous state water plans, and watch meeting recordings, visit des.sc.gov/WaterSC.
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