The Drought Response Committee of the state of South Carolina met in Columbia on Tuesday and added 7 more counties to the category of 'extreme drought,' the state's highest level. 9 counties received a drought status upgrade.
Those counties are Union, Anderson, Abbeville, Greenwood, Newberry, Saluda, Edgefield, McCormick, and Laurens.
The Committee did not recommend mandatory water restrictions due to the fact that many areas within the extreme drought designation already have either voluntary or mandatory water restrictions.
Spartanburg Water System, for example, is located within the extreme drought zone but has managed to cut water usage with voluntary compliance. Officials at the Water System state that voluntary restrictions have reduced usage by 10 to 15 percent.
The 5 original counties under extreme drought conditions in the Upstate, located in the northwestern corner of South Carolina, remain under extreme alert--Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Cherokee counties.
In spite of the continued bad news, the Committee did report at least some good news for two areas of the state that had formerly been under drought conditions. Rainfall totals in Charleston and Georgetown counties have been sufficient to remove the areas from the drought zone entirely.
For the complete story on the drought in South Carolina, click HERE to go to WSPA-TV News Channel 7.
Showing posts with label severe drought. Show all posts
Showing posts with label severe drought. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Mandatory Water Restrictions in Upstate SC District
An Upstate South Carolina water district has issued mandatory water restrictions in response to the continued severe drought conditions.
The SJWD Water District in western Spartanburg County has banned all outdoor water usage. Fines of up to $500 per infraction could be issued to citizens who are convicted of watering their lawns, flowers, and shrubbery, washing their vehicles, or filling up their swimming pools.
Lyman Lake, the district's reservoir, has reached dangerously low levels in recent days.
The water restrictions issued by SJWD include the Spartanburg County towns of Startex, Jackson Mill, Welford, Duncan, Lyman, and Greer.
Clemson has already enacted mandatory water restrictions in response to dangerously low levels in Lake Hartwell.
The Spartanburg Water System is considering issuing mandatory water restrictions but so far has decided to continue with voluntary compliance.
Five counties in the Upstate of South Carolina have been declared by the state to be in the worst drought conditions possible.
The SJWD Water District in western Spartanburg County has banned all outdoor water usage. Fines of up to $500 per infraction could be issued to citizens who are convicted of watering their lawns, flowers, and shrubbery, washing their vehicles, or filling up their swimming pools.
Lyman Lake, the district's reservoir, has reached dangerously low levels in recent days.
The water restrictions issued by SJWD include the Spartanburg County towns of Startex, Jackson Mill, Welford, Duncan, Lyman, and Greer.
Clemson has already enacted mandatory water restrictions in response to dangerously low levels in Lake Hartwell.
The Spartanburg Water System is considering issuing mandatory water restrictions but so far has decided to continue with voluntary compliance.
Five counties in the Upstate of South Carolina have been declared by the state to be in the worst drought conditions possible.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Severe Water Shortages in the Southeast
The northwestern South Carolina town of Clemson, home of the famous ACC football team The Clemson Tigers, became the first municipality in South Carolina to enact a mandatory water restriction policy at its town council meeting last evening.
Clemson police will begin writing $50 fines for infringements such as watering the lawn, washing the car, hosing off sidewalks and driveways, and watering plants, flowers, and shrubs.
The mandatory restrictions were implemented as a result of the U.S. Weather Service's designation of 5 upstate South Carolina counties as under extreme drought conditions.
At the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, for example, rainfall totals for the year thus far are down by 10 inches.
Lakes, rivers, streams, and reservoirs in the area are not only feeling the brunt of the drought, but they are showing it. Clemson, for example, is a lake town, and each day residents can see with their own eyes how severe the drought has become by simply looking at lake levels.
The U.S. Weather Service reports that the only thing to provide longterm relief for the Southeast at this point is a mild tropical system stemming from a hurricane or tropical storm.
While the area has experienced rain on a daily basis since last Thursday from afternoon and evening thunderstorms, these storms have not provided sufficient rainfall to make a dint in the drought.
Clemson police will begin writing $50 fines for infringements such as watering the lawn, washing the car, hosing off sidewalks and driveways, and watering plants, flowers, and shrubs.
The mandatory restrictions were implemented as a result of the U.S. Weather Service's designation of 5 upstate South Carolina counties as under extreme drought conditions.
At the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, for example, rainfall totals for the year thus far are down by 10 inches.
Lakes, rivers, streams, and reservoirs in the area are not only feeling the brunt of the drought, but they are showing it. Clemson, for example, is a lake town, and each day residents can see with their own eyes how severe the drought has become by simply looking at lake levels.
The U.S. Weather Service reports that the only thing to provide longterm relief for the Southeast at this point is a mild tropical system stemming from a hurricane or tropical storm.
While the area has experienced rain on a daily basis since last Thursday from afternoon and evening thunderstorms, these storms have not provided sufficient rainfall to make a dint in the drought.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Top News from the Western Carolinas
Here are some of the top news stories from the upstate, Piedmont, and mountains of North and South Carolina:
South Carolina weather officials have declared severe drought conditions for a five-county area of the Upstate. Water shortages in these areas are the worst possible.
A Spartanburg High School sophomore football player drowned in Lake Bowen late Monday afternoon.
Vandals tried to electrocute and drown dogs in their cages at the Anderson County Animal Shelter.
The South Carolina teen who was decapitated by a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia was in a restricted area at the time of his death, but police don't know why.
A prominent Salisbury, North Carolina dentist was murdered last week. Police state that 911 calls have given them new evidence concerning the suspects.
South Carolina weather officials have declared severe drought conditions for a five-county area of the Upstate. Water shortages in these areas are the worst possible.
A Spartanburg High School sophomore football player drowned in Lake Bowen late Monday afternoon.
Vandals tried to electrocute and drown dogs in their cages at the Anderson County Animal Shelter.
The South Carolina teen who was decapitated by a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia was in a restricted area at the time of his death, but police don't know why.
A prominent Salisbury, North Carolina dentist was murdered last week. Police state that 911 calls have given them new evidence concerning the suspects.
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