Growth Through Change
By David Wilson, Chief, DHEC Bureau of Water
It has been said that change is only the end of the road if you fail to make the curve. During the past year, we have had change in DHEC’s Bureau of Water, and we have steadily continued around the bend. Several months ago, many of our senior management staff retired. At that same time, I became Bureau Chief in the Bureau of Water. Many of my challenges during this transition were eased by a strong and capable staff that includes many veterans of DHEC water programs.
Like our recent experience at DHEC, change is an ever present force within the Water Industry. The gap is shortening between traditional methods of managing water resources. We have learned that the holistic approach of properly managed watersheds has a positive effect on multiple water issues such as wastewater and drinking water treatment, recreational water usage, water quality and water quantity. As water industry professionals, the future will bring more changes and opportunities for us over the next few years. There will be continued regulation development, emerging treatment technologies, increased computer technology to aid us in our job duties, and a growing need for water resource management. Our staff looks forward to working with you, the water industry professional, as we encounter these changes and new opportunities in the coming years. We will make that turn around the curve together as we work to keep South Carolina’s water resources healthy and plentiful.
(David Wilson has over twenty years of experience in the field of Environmental Quality Control. He started his career in 1983 working within DHEC’s Bureau of Water Pollution Control. In October of 2006, he became Bureau Chief in the Bureau of Water after serving as Assistant Bureau Chief in DHEC’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management. He is a South Carolina Registered Professional Engineer and has a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering. A native South Carolinian, Mr. Wilson enjoys travel, riding his motorcycle, and playing golf around our beautiful state. )