South Carolina's population grew by two-thirds from 1960 to 2000. During those same four decades, South Carolinians' water consumption grew tenfold. With our state now entangled in a court battle with North Carolina over water access, we should start using this precious resource in a manner that acknowledges its finite — and indispensable — nature. ...

Our state's lawsuit against North Carolina over access to the Catawba River basin is now being heard by a special judge appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Regardless of that case's outcome, however, we must use our water more wisely by wasting much less of it.

South Carolinians can make essential contributions to that effort by fixing their leaky faucets, avoiding excessive lawn watering, installing water-saving shower heads and kicking the bad habit of leaving hoses on for extended periods while washing their cars.

If we adopt common-sense practices on a wide scale, we could lower our water bills.

We might even avoid another vast — and unsustainable — increase in our state's water consumption.

The (Charleston) Post and Courier