The issue of water conservation will only intensify over time, conservationists warn, as larger metropolitan areas such as Atlanta expand and stress available supplies. A drought that has gripped much of South Carolina and other parts of the Southeast recently has only made the message more relevant.

Recently, authorities in Clemson said that a lake bordering South Carolina and Georgia has dropped to an all-time low. And with Atlanta continuing to grow, both South Carolina and Tennessee officials are concerned that the Georgia capital might look to either the Savannah or Tennessee rivers in the future. Already, Georgia, Alabama and Florida have fought over how much water can be stored in Georgia lakes.