$1.5m project will track water impacts from Hyundai auto plant in Bryan, Bulloch counties

STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - The fight over well water continues in Bryan and Bulloch counties after Hyundai’s wells began operating this year, causing concern for residents relying on the same Floridian aquifer.

The Bryan-Bulloch Groundwater Sustainability Program Advisory Committee, on Thursday morning, approved a proposal from Georgia Southern University professionals that they will be overseeing and monitoring six wells within a five-mile radius to see if there are any impacts from the Hyundai runoff.

GSU’s Institute for Water & Health Director Dr. Asli Aslan said the decision for six is so they have statistical confidence about how the wells will be impacted.

The committee is now wondering two things. Is the data GSU collects starting now correct, and what are the impacts?

Bryan County Senior Engineer Project Manager Paul Teague said residents have voiced their concerns, and rightfully so, but this next step is to ensure data continues to show their residents minimal impacts.

“Those concerns are valid for those residents; we don’t want to downplay that. We want to let everybody know that we are tracking it and we want to make any kind of mitigation efforts that we need to, but really, up to this point, it’s been very good news that we’re seeing very little impact.”

Bulloch County Commissioners in the room on Thursday plan to approve the recommendation on Tuesday.

The committee’s economic outlook shows that an additional $527,000 will fund this project from selling the well water. Along with the $1 million to start the program from organizations, including Hyundai.