Tybee Island to Invest $2.4 million in Land Acquisition in Response to Water Challenges
Tybee Island in Chatham County, Georgia, has taken significant steps towards addressing ongoing water concerns brought on by increasing coastal demand for industrial and residential development, coupled with efforts to comply with its groundwater withdrawal limits. In a specifically-convened meeting, the Tybee City Council sanctioned a contract to purchase a 4-acre area intersecting Solomon and Polk streets for a noteworthy $2.4 million.
Potential Well and Recreational Facilities
This vast parcel of land, comprising 25 tax segments, presents the potential for constructing a well, while leaving ample space for recreational facilities, although no specific activities were declared in the meeting. This proactive approach comes in the wake of similar water troubles faced by nearby Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, which is contending with saline taint within its water supply system.
Mayor Brian West voiced his concerns regarding this issue, stating, “They’ve needed to adjust their water processing system to confront the salt, and we’re worried that the additional water demands due to immense growth and development could impact us similarly.”
Current and Future Water Supply Conjectures
While Tybee Island is predicted to secure renewal of its five-year water withdrawal permit, the local administration is aware of the developing necessity to reconsider their water supply. The land purchased stands as a strategic step towards expanding or adjusting their water processing systems in anticipation of future needs, though the definitive utilization of the plots remains undisclosed.
The city, as initially reported by HERE News Network, is exploring a range of alternatives for their water supply; this includes drawing water from alternate aquifers, realizing a Cretaceous aquifer well, implementing reverse osmosis treatment, and even extending from the City of Savannah’s water system. In addition, Mayor Brian West divulged an interest in desalinating ocean water, a common practice amid coastal communities but a task that requires a significant energy input. “If you could make it happen,” adds West, “It’s an eternal supply of water.”
A Long-Awaited Decision
Mayor Pro Tem Monty Parks recalled that the quest for acquiring land for Tybee has been in process for the last six years, and attributed the final decision as a proactive response to popular demand, stating, “Year after year, election after election, people have been asking, saying, put some land aside for Tybee. This is a big step towards easing those fears for water and security.”
This development underscores the ideology of recurring necessity and adaptability steering toward sustainable solutions. As Tybee Island continues on its determined march to secure its water future, the eyes of numerous similarly situated coastal communities will no doubt be watching closely.
