That’s an issue that 10 candidates running for governor were eager to discuss in a recent ETV debate that paired Republican candidates against Democratic candidates.
Rep. Gresham Barrett said surface water removal is one of the most important natural resource issues facing the state.
“Whose water is it? Is it Georgia’s? Is it North Carolina’s? Is it South Carolina’s?” he said. “Reaching an agreement with that is extremely important.
“We need to know the exact amount of water that’s in the Savannah River Basin and the Catawba River Basin,” Barrett continued, adding bilateral agreements with both Georgia and North Carolina over water rights are needed.
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer agreed a collaborative effort is needed.
“We may need to get the federal government involved to actually work out who has what rights,” he said. “I don’t it’s something that one individual at this stage is going to solve, it’s going to take an effort.”
“If we can’t reach an agreement, then it’s clearly something that’s going to have to be worked out by the federal government, as much as I’m opposed to the federal government,” Bauer continued.
Democratic lawyer Dwight Drake said he hopes Attorney General Henry McMaster wins his lawsuit against North Carolina in the Supreme Court over water rights, but that he thought the suit wasn’t well thought out.
“When you’re in that court, in a battle between two states, you have a heightened standard, than you would have if you’d brought that suit in a lower court to begin with,” he said.
Atlanta drawing more water from the Savannah Basin, is a bigger problem, Drake said.
Democratic state Sen. Robert Ford said the next governors of all 3 states involved should work with the states’ legislators to form a solution that will make everyone happy regarding current and future use of water.
“We could file all the lawsuits we want,” Ford said. “But by working together … it’s a common sense issue. We’ve got to have that water. We can solve these problems. It’s not rocket science stuff. It’s simple stuff.”
Republican state Sen. Larry Grooms said that a surface water permitting bill is essential for South Carolina’s future, both economically and environmentally.
“I’m a co-sponsor to this piece of this legislation,” he said.
The bill stalled, but Grooms said he was trying to push it through.
“It ensures that our natural resources are available for the next generation, but for industry, it ensures that the tap’s not going to get turned off, everyone knows what we can withdraw in a sustainable fashion,” Grooms said.
Republican Rep. Nikki Haley said it’s important for governors to work together.
“But the governor of South Carolina needs to take care of South Carolina,” she said. “And make sure that our resources stay within our state, and that we do not forget that our number one industry in this state is agriculture, and they need to be at the table at this debate. We need to make sure that South Carolina has the water that they need, and for the businesses in this state.”
Democratic attorney Mullins McLeod agreed that the state needs to determine how much water is available, and how much is being taken out, and figure out an equitable way to ration that out to the states involved in the fight.
“If we stick our heads in the sand, we have no idea how much of the resource is taken out,” he said. “That’s a problem. That has to stop if we’re going to conserve and protect that natural resource.”
“Water is life, and water is money,” McMaster said. “If North Carolina can take our water, as they’ve done for years, because we’ve talking about it for years … as we’ve been talking to Georgia for years. If those two states can squeeze us and take that water, then our economic expansion and our prosperity is over.
“That’s why I brought that lawsuit,” he continued. “We’re making progress. They’re going to apportion that river, and they’re going to protect South Carolina against those neighbors.”
State Superintendent Dr. Jim Rex, who has served on the board of the Catawba River Foundation, said the water issue is one of both quality and quantity.
“We’ve got to worry about the quality of our water,” he said, adding that interstate river basin compacts are needed. “Every river basin should have a full-time paid river keeper, looking out for the quality and as well as quantity of that river. We need to worry about what’s in the river, not just the quantity.”
Democratic state Sen. Vincent Sheheen said the passage of a real surface water withdrawal act is required, and that he’s proud that he helped build that legislation.
“I think we will do that,” he said, adding he supports McMaster’s lawsuit. “But there’s a saying about the law that if you resort to litigation, you’ve already lost. We need to reach a consensus with our surrounding states. We need to look forward to avoid these fights in the future.”
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