At the weekly luncheon meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Florence, Congressman Clyburn said providing a reliable, sustainable water system for this region has been one of his priorities in Congress.

            “I worked hard to secure $1.9 million for the Florence Pee Dee Water facility that is necessary to attract economic development along the I-95 corridor and insure that any new investor’s water needs can be met,” Congressman Clyburn said.  “I also secured $300,000 in 1997 for a study conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on how to insure the viability of the Yadkin-Pee Dee watershed.”

            The Congressman reported that the study has not yet been released because it is being revised to reflect the current drought conditions, which did not exist when the study was conducted.  The Corps researched the feasibility of building off-stem reservoirs by studying 18 different sites.  The cost per reservoir would run from $60 million to $100 million. 

“Even if all 18 reservoirs were built, none of them would hold a drop of water today because of the current drought conditions,” Congressman Clyburn said.  “Building a reservoir is not a long-term solution.”

            Congressman Clyburn did have a suggestion for developing a drought-proof, reliable source of potable water.  He believes a study should be conducted on the feasibility of building a desalination facility that would serve the Pee Dee.  There are currently 750 plants in the country that use a specialized membrane to remove salt and other impurities from brackish water.

            “South Carolina has an abundance of ocean water that is unfit to drink,” Congressman Clyburn continued.  “However, in recent years technology has advanced to the point that it may be economically feasible for the Pee Dee to utilize this unlimited resource to supplement the water available from the Yadkin-Pee Dee watershed.”

Congressman Clyburn pointed out that such a solution would not be available for many years.

“There are only two immediate solutions: 1. pray for more rain, and 2. continue working with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to insure an adequate flow of water from the dams upstream,”  Congressman Clyburn added.  “I am working closely with the entire South Carolina Congressional delegation to guide FERC’s hand in its negotiations with ALCOA and CP&L to continue releases of 900 cubic feet per second from their reservoirs.”

An agreement has been reached that will extend that release level until March 2003.

 

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