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(Washington, DC) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been authorized by the U.S. House of Representatives to conduct a study on the feasibility of locating a desalination plant in Andrews, South Carolina to convert salt water to potable water. The provision was included by Sixth Congressman James E. Clyburn in the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, which currently awaits Senate approval.
“Summer before last, every county in South Carolina was under extreme drought conditions, and our residents were looking for help,” Congressman Clyburn said. “I committed then to study the potential for turning our abundance of salt water into drinking water in times of severe need in this state. “
Congressman Clyburn has secured $200,000 for the study that will determine the viability and practicality of constructing a desalination water treatment facility in Georgetown County that can serve the Pee Dee region.
Currently, there are about 750 desalination plants in the United States. Between 70-80% of these facilities use reverse osmosis to push salt water through a membrane that allows the water molecules to pass through leaving impurities such as salt and pollutants as a bi-product. The cost varies from $2-$4 dollars per 1,000 gallons produced, and decreases significantly as the capacity increases.
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U.S. Congressman 
