What’s at Stake

Citizens in Horry and Georgetown counties continue to be frustrated by poorly planned growth. Sprawl and poorly planned development convert our small hometowns and pristine landscapes into unrecognizable locations, depriving our visitors and children of the heritage and beauty that are the hallmarks of South Carolina. Many citizens and elected leaders point to population growth and/or a lack of zoning as the cause of creeping sprawl.
  
However, if population growth were the cause of sprawl, then what would explain the fact that South Carolina is developing it’s virgin land at three times the rate of population growth? Furthermore, if a lack of zoning law is the issue, then how is it that half of the state’s counties have no zoning laws, yet the majority of sprawl is occurring in counties where zoning has been in place for some time?

Sprawl and poorly planned development occur due to enabling factors in a region.  The two primary enablers of sprawl are new roads and sewer lines, installed in rural areas where they either do not belong or are not needed. This is good news, because it means that cities and counties can limit unplanned growth in a simple manner, by refusing to extend sewers and roads into rural areas that do not require these services.

Challenges

While it sounds simple, only two counties in the state have comprehensive plans defining where sewer lines should - and should not go. The passage of the Priority Investment Area (PIA) legislation at the State House in 2007 promises to bring service providers into the planning process but requires that citizens insist sewer expansion be included in comprehensive planning.

It may not be evident that keeping sewer lines out of rural areas actually protects water quality. Sewer and water officials, aided by millions of federal dollars, have been telling a different story for decades. However, the most environmentally sound way to deal with household wastewater from rural residents is a properly maintained septic tank.

Besides costing a fraction of what a sewer system costs, septic tanks recycle water that is drawn from shallow aquifers back into those same aquifers. Sewer systems transport water miles away to a central treatment plant that dumps contaminated wastewater into a nearby river.

Sewer lines, which cost taxpayers millions of dollars unnecessarily, fail to recharge groundwater, and subsidize unnecessary development. The better alternative is to utilize wise regional planning, encouraged by legislation such as the PIA, to save our landscapes and spare out pocketbooks at the same time.

Next Steps

Citizens must insist that local leaders undertake and execute long-term comprehensive regional planning that takes road and sewer plans into consideration.

Educate rural residents about the benefits of a properly maintained septic tank as the best way to preserve rural maintain water quality and protect from unmanaged growth. 

Fast Fact

South Carolina is converting rural land into developed land at the rate of 200 acres per day!

For more information, contact Dana Beach, Coastal Conservation League, 843-723-8035.