Data from the United States Geological Survey shows that the level of the Floridan aquifer in Savannah shot up about 2 feet shortly after International Paper shut down production at its nearby mill.
The paper giant is permitted to withdraw 12.2 million gallons a day of water from the aquifer in Savannah, one of the largest groundwater withdrawal permits on the coast. By contrast, the Hyundai plant in Ellabell, which has drawn sharp criticism for its water needs, is expected to use about 4 million gallons a day when it’s fully operational.
In August, International Paper announced that the facility would be shuttered by October. Data from a USGS monitoring well on Hutchinson Island, across the Savannah River from the plant, shows the water level in the aquifer — measured in feet below land surface — beginning to rise around Sept. 18…