Hyundai’s Savannah Project Raises Concerns Over Water Supply and Environmental Impact

Hyundai’s Savannah Project Sparks Water Supply Concerns

This week, Hyundai Motor Company made headlines with its plans for a massive $7.6 billion electric vehicle and battery manufacturing complex near Savannah, Georgia. With a goal of producing 300,000 cars annually, the company estimates it will need about 4 million gallons of water per day once they reach full production. But where will all that water come from? That’s the question on everyone’s mind as local environmental authorities assess the impact of the automaker’s new venture.

A Closer Look at Water Usage

Hyundai plans to tap into the Floridan Aquifer through four wells they propose to drill in Bulloch County, which sits just north of the plant in Bryan County. In total, they are seeking permission to pump up to 6.65 million gallons of water each day from the aquifer. This means that about 60% of that water—specifically 4 million gallons—will be dedicated to the production of electric vehicles, while the remaining 2.65 million gallons will support growth and development in North Bryan County.

The situation is not without its challenges. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently announced they are reevaluating a crucial environmental permit initially granted for this project due to new concerns raised by the Ogeechee Riverkeeper organization. The Corps is worried that the development could negatively impact local water supplies—an issue that wasn’t properly addressed in earlier assessments.

Environmental Concerns and Legal Challenges

Experts indicate that the reevaluation may lead to stricter regulations regarding the wells’ capacity, a significant change from the earlier conclusion that the project posed “negligible impacts” on local water supplies. Ryan Rowberry, a professor at Georgia State University College of Law, expressed his surprise at the Corps’ recent letter, suggesting that it indicated a need for better information on water use: “You guys made us look like idiots and we need your water information in order to properly assess (the permit).”

Meanwhile, local officials are scrambling to address these concerns. Trip Tollison, who leads the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority, stated that they would work alongside the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to provide the necessary assessments about the aquifer’s capacity.

Impact on Local Water Supplies

According to EPD estimates, the extraction process could cause the depth of the Floridan Aquifer to drop by as much as 19 feet near the new wells, and private wells in the area might decline by up to 15 feet. To mitigate such impacts, there are conditions tied to the permits that could create a fund to support property owners whose wells are adversely affected within a five-mile radius.

Currently, there’s a $1 million mitigation fund that will be funded equally by local development authorities and Hyundai. Although Tollison claimed the projected water needs weren’t included in the original federal permit application, this oversight could pose risks for Hyundai. As Rowberry pointed out, failure to include these details may lead the Corps to take a harder stance, potentially limiting water access further than Hyundai anticipated.

The Way Forward

Local officials, such as Tollison, are now tasked with quickly providing the necessary assessments to ensure the project can move forward. However, they acknowledge that linking Hyundai’s site to a surface water source could take as long as 25 years. The future of this ambitious manufacturing complex may depend on how well they navigate these water supply challenges.

As Savannah embarks on this exciting new chapter with Hyundai, the balance between economic growth and environmental responsibility is more crucial than ever. Everyone will be keeping a close eye on how this situation develops!