Water is Wet. What else do you want to know?

It's been a wild week here at the Planning Services Division: it started with a GIS (maps) conference in Columbia ending mid-day Tuesday, then diffusing a potential FLATS (our urban transportation planning side) issue with the long-range plan and reviewing text on the future land use element (coming to areas around the City of Florence in March). All of this, together with figuring out how to compile a list of annual obligations for FLATS, an update to the background material to support the TIP and a federal government survey!

...are you still there?

We are! And we are making some great strides moving Florence County forward. But I want to discuss the water survey that was sitting to the right for so long (I moved it further down the page for now).

Water
It seems like everyone who took the survey (thank you!) has a great perspective on where their water comes from... and for most of us, it comes from the same place - the Pee Dee River and aquifer (not a survey option). There was another option that I failed to offer: anyone collect rainwater? ...don't laugh; many settlers to the Florida Keys had large cisterns installed under the house - provides water and keeps a constant temperature in the house.

Surprisingly, the survey shows more than 25% of us get our water from a bottle!

The Great Pee Dee River runs along the northeastern side of Florence County, making its way towards Johnsonville. In addition to multiple wells tapping the aquifer around town, the City of Florence operates a surface water treatment plant at the Industrial Park at 327 and I-95. The photo to the left is the education center; also see it in the drafted Community Facilities Element (public hearing, County Council, March 5th).

Everyone knows that diversifying an investment portfolio maximi... nevermind... This plant enables the City to diversify its water source. With the growing population of Florence, the more different sources, the better. It's all about capacity: having the capability to treat and supply the residents with clean drinking water. Currently, the City has a permit from DHEC to pull 15 million gallons a day (mgd) from its sources!

Water Conservation
I practically grew up with water restrictions. Do you know what the biggest use of water (other than indutrial processes)? Irrigation! ...I couldn't believe it when I heard that. How could anyone consider watering their lawn if they know what it took to supply it.

Taking the trip of a water molecule, you are first free in an aquifer or in the river when you are sucked into a treatment plant (think day spa for water molecules), then stored along with other molecules (those large tanks you see on the horizon), then directed through tunnels (water mains, to neighborhood distribution, to the meter at your house)... then - all over your lawn. Personal wells are a bit more practical for this purpose - but be sure to water at the early morning hours.

Bottom line - conserve this precious and expensive resource. These are your tax dollars and natural resources at work!