Gov. McMaster, state leaders reveal updated SC water plan

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Gov. Henry McMaster announced updates to South Carolina’s long-term water plan at a press conference Thursday.

McMaster was joined by South Carolina Department of Environmental Services Director Myra Reece to lay out the plan, focused on the sustainability of various water resources across the state.

The plan was developed with members of SCDES and the WaterSC group, which McMaster established in 2024 by executive order, and the River Basin Councils. The group was required by the order to create and submit an updated plan by the end of 2025.

“South Carolina’s booming population and record-breaking economic development have brought new demands on our water system, and it is our responsibility to ensure our water resources remain secure,” McMaster said in a statement. “This updated State Water Plan provides a clear, long-term strategy for maintaining reliable water supplies over the next 50 years. I am confident in the work SCDES and WaterSC have done to ensure South Carolina is prepared to meet the demands of today and tomorrow.”

The plan covers various state resources, drought response, current and future water demand, water availability across the state, recommended policy changes and recommendations from river basin councils and SCDES.

Key takeaways from the plan are:

STATE RESOURCES:

South Carolina’s water resources are monitored by the following applications and models

• 275 USGS gages that monitor surface water levels and flow
• 190 SCDES wells that monitor aquifer levels
• Simplified Water Allocation Model that simulates future conditions
• Coastal Plain Groundwater Model
• Flow-Ecology Metrics

DROUGHT RESPONSE RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Update drought plans every five years
• Add temporary drought surcharges to water rates to hopefully reduce overuse
• Have unified messaging from all utility companies
• Create a statewide environmental monitoring network
• Get rid of price structuring that encourages more water use

WATER DEMAND:

• Water used in energy production accounts for 80% of total water use in the state.
• 95% of all water withdrawals come from rivers and lakes
• SC uses approximately 5.9 billion gallons of water per day
• Statewide demand for water could increase up to 7.9 billion gallons of water by 2070

WATER SC RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Ensure continuous and updated water planning
• Coordinate with border states to ensure fair usage
• Create statewide water education
• Strengthen current drought systems
• Continue to support water reuse

RIVER BASIN COUNCILS RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Create a statewide River Basin Council network
• Plan for long-term water funding
• Integrate water quality and data connection
• Improve drought readiness
• Revise current water laws and policies

SCDES RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Create a new and more adaptive system
• Update water policies
• Work with surrounding states

FUTURE PRIORITIES:

• Ongoing water planning
• Education and community outreach
• Enhanced data and models
• Large-range planning considerations
• Increase in funding to implement proposals

The full report can be found below.

2025 Full South Carolina State Water Plan by marley.bassett

This is the third time that the water report has been updated, with the last one happening in 2004.

“The updated State Water Plan isn’t just a report — it’s a roadmap that prepares us for growth, protects us in times of drought, and safeguards the water resources that sustain our way of life,” Reece said in a statement. “While South Carolina’s water resources are abundant, they are not limitless. If we continue to plan wisely and collaboratively, we will have the water we need to support our residents and economy for generations to come.”

More information about the plan can be found by clicking here.

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