Southeast Georgia residents troubled by water plans for Hyundai plant

Residents await the start of the water meeting. (Mary Landers/The Current)

Plans to drill four new drinking water wells in Bulloch County to supply almost 7 million gallons a day of water to serve the Hyundai Metaplant and associated development in Bryan County drew concern and criticism at a packed public meeting in Statesboro Thursday.

“We’re concerned about our water table, our wells going dry,” said Bruce Simons. “We’re concerned about the wetlands in that area. … Please, we need to look at strictly surface water for that plant.”

The Coastal Georgia Regional Water Council met at Ogeechee Technical College with more than 120 residents in attendance. Representatives from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division as well as engineering consultants to Bulloch and Bryan counties provided updates for the two counties.