Hilton Head (SC) Public Service District Water District Addresses Total Loss of Water Supply

摘要

Hilton Head Public Service District (HHPSD) currently supplies water to 18,000 customers. Itsoriginal primary groundwater supply from 11 wells is being systematically and ultimately lost tosaltwater intrusion.The increased production drawdown in the associated aquifer, the Upper Floridan Aquifer (UFA),was promoted by continuous development in the Hilton Head Island, SC/Savannah, GA areas. Thisresulted in South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) issuing adirective in 1995 that required the District to reduce its annual production from this aquifer by 50%,thereby generating and promoting a water crisis in the District.The District took unique steps in combating the crisis by: Constructing a pipeline tie-in with the off-island Beaufort Jasper Water & Sewer Authority(BJWSA) that provided wholesale water in a contractual supply of 1 to 5 MGD with aguaranteed minimum purchase of 1 MGD. Initiating studies and investigations to predict and project the loss of all of its wells Developing and implementing a staged plan for alternative water supply and distributionfacilities including Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Aquifer Storage & Recovery (ASR). Evaluating the capital, operating and financial costs impacting the District's Cost-of-Servicerate model.This paper presents a detailed report with graphs and figures for the following: Past programs and facilities implemented to-date Statistical and graphical analysis on groundwater hydrology that projects and predicts theloss of all 11 original UFA wells Control of water quality and production based on extensive monitoring of the District watersupply/storage/distribution systems and aquifers Current supply and distribution proposals being executed in 2014 Future supply and distribution planning for the loss of the remaining wells Unique concepts and facilities to meet the District's seasonal maximum daily flows and Financial evaluations that impact capital programs, cost of water and water rates.The HHPSD has experienced difficult times during its water supply crisis, planning andimplementation programs. This paper can provide insight to similar coastal groundwater issuesimpacting other providers and offer both direction and hope towards possible solutions.