Groundwater data is used for drought monitoring purposes.

Overview

SCDES maintains a drought monitoring network of approximately ten wells across the State equipped with real-time monitoring equipment. These wells, along with additional wells monitored by the USGS, are used for drought monitoring purposes and are used as a drought indicator by the State Drought Response Committee in determining drought declarations. A map showing the current drought status of wells in the Drought Monitoring Network is shown on the right.

Additional drought information can be found on the SC State Climate Office's Website.

The SCDES Groundwater Program will be expanding its Groundwater Drought Monitoring Network over the next few years as more wells in the Groundwater-level Monitoring Network are equipped with real-time telemetry systems. In 2019, ten new shallow monitoring wells were installed across the Coastal Plain to enhance the network. These wells will be added to the Groundwater Drought Monitoring Network when approximately ten years of data have been collected at these sites.

Groundwater Drought Monitoring Network