U.S. Water News Online
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and wildlife officials have encouraged residents to voluntarily conserve water during the state's worsening drought.
Last month, the state's Drought Response Committee upgraded the conditions to severe levels for all counties except Beaufort and Jasper.
Things have not improved since, the Department of Natural Resources said. The agency said 14 of the 17 streams monitored are at extreme drought level, and some lakes have declined to water levels lower than the extended drought period of 1998-2002.
Rainfall over most of the state has been below normal this year for every month except June, the agency said.
"As the situation continues, we believe it's incredibly important for all South Carolinians to take individual initiative in doing what they can to conserve water," Sanford said.
The agency released a list of ways to conserve water, including turning off the faucet while brushing teeth and shaving, taking shorter showers and reducing garbage disposal use.
While the forecast calls for widespread rain, state climatologist Hope Mizzell said it will take "many months of normal to above normal rainfall" to help the drought conditions.
"Unfortunately," she says, "that is not expected."
Mizzell said longer-range forecasts call for a drier-than-normal fall and winter.
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