Over the last three days, we have looked at the state of gray water in this great state. We have talked about the challenges of the past and the opportunities of the present. And when it comes to the future of gray water recycling in South Carolina, I am optimistic, friends.
I am less optimistic, however, about our nation’s overall water consumption. If you look at the path we are taking, we simply cannot sustain the water we consume. According to the EPA, the average American used about 10 gallons of water every day a century ago. Today, we use 100 gallons. Another stat claims that at least 36 states will face serious water shortages within the next five years.
You may be wondering, if water shortages are such a problem, why do we hardly ever hear about them? One reason for the lack of attention is the price of water. For the most part, water is dirt cheap. Some cities (ahem, Greenville) still operate on an inverted scale that rewards people for using more water by lowering rates as consumption increases.
Eventually this pricing structure will change, and prices will reflect the true scarcity of water. This is an important point to consider because prices indicate value to consumers. And people react accordingly. What if a gallon of water costs as much as a gallon of gasoline? I’m not suggesting that water should be so expensive, but it would certainly change the way we think about agua.
Population growth, shrinking lakes and rivers, overburdened wastewater treatment plants, aging infrastructure—all of these factors will inevitably cause the price of water to rise. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when.
To find shortages right here in South Cackalack, all you have to do is pick up your local newspaper. A couple of weeks ago, parts of Greenville were hurting for safe drinking water. The town of Williamston cannot treat all of their wastewater and is desperately searching for ways to conserve. And in 2007 South Carolina sued North Carolina, claiming that North Carolina’s history of taking water out of the Catawba River basin violates the U.S. Constitution.
Looking forward, we can each do our part to help. Our conservation tips are a great place to start. If you are really ambitious, I would encourage you to contact your local South Carolina representative and encourage him or her to draft legislation that describes the acceptable applications for gray water usage.
Adding such specifications to our state laws and codes would not only make gray water recycling more mainstream—it would also help raise awareness for the issue. The next step would be to encourage legislators to offer tax incentives for individuals and businesses to recycle gray water.
And then…And then…OK, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the things that South Carolina needs to do in the way of recycling gray water. But one thing is for sure: it’s time to start doing something.
