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If you have any questions or comments regarding South Carolina’s Water Quality Standards, please contact wqs@des.sc.gov. 

dockWater quality standards protect and restore the quality of our surface waters in accordance with the Clean Water Act (CWA).  The CWA is the primary Federal statute regulating the protection of the nation’s water. The CWA aims to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution in the nation's water to "restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters," as described in CWA section 101(a). Water quality standards define the goals for a waterbody by designating its uses, setting criteria to protect those uses, and establishing provisions to protect water quality from pollutants. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise existing standards and create new standards based on changing water quality conditions, changing waterbody uses, and new scientific information on the effects of pollutants in the environment.

Water quality standards establish the foundation on which other programs work to achieve and maintain protective water quality conditions, such as: 

process
  • Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs)
  • Waste load allocations (WLAs) for point source dischargers
  • Load allocations (LAs) for non-point source dischargers
  • Water quality management plans
  • Effluent limits for NPDES permits
  • Water quality certifications under Section 401 of the CWA
  • State of South Carolina Integrated Report (i.e. 303(d) list and 305(b) report)
  • Section 319 non-point source pollution grants

The three core components of water quality standards are designated uses, water quality criteria, and antidegradation requirements. Additional components of water quality standards may include general policies, variances, provisions authorizing the use of compliance schedules in permits.

ReedySouth Carolina's water quality standards are promulgated in S.C. Regulation 61-68, Water Classifications and Standards (R.61-68). This regulation sets forth the classifications of our state's waters and establishes water quality standards that protect and maintain the existing and classified uses of those waters. Those beneficial uses, criteria set to protect and maintain those uses, and our antidegradation policy are all required components of the water quality standards as set forth in the CWA.

S.C. Regulation 61-69, Classified Waters (R.61-69), is a compilation of many of the waters of the State listed by name, the county(ies) where the waterbody is located, the classification of the waterbody, any designation for that waterbody, and a brief description of the waterbody including any site-specific numeric criteria that apply to the listed waterbody. R.61-69 must be amended each time a waterbody is reclassified to another classification. To ensure consistency between the state's regulations, R.61-69 must also be amended if changes are made to the classification systems found in R.61-68. All waters of the state of South Carolina are classified even if they are not specifically named or listed in R.61-69. For those waters not specifically listed in R.61-69, the classification of the waterbody that they are tributary to is the assigned class for those waters pursuant to the rules in both R.61-68 and R.61-69.

Section 303(c)(2)(B) of the CWA requires that South Carolina's water quality standards be reviewed and revised, where necessary, at least once every three years for the purposes of considering the Environmental Protection Agency's most recent numeric and narrative criteria and complying with recent Federal regulatory revisions and recommendations. This process is known as the triennial review. Regulations to be reviewed during the triennial review include R61-68 and R.61-69. Topics that are typically considered during each triennial review include, but are not limited to:

marsh
  • Review and, where appropriate, adoption of revised federal water quality criteria to reflect the most current final published criteria according to Sections 304(a) and 307(a) of the CWA.
  • Addition or revision of definitions.
  • Stylistic changes which may include corrections for: readability, grammar, punctuation, typography, codification, references, and language style.
  • Additional topics are addressed during the triennial review process as needed. 

Details of past rulemakings are provided below.

Promulgation Process Updates

stages
This triennial review will follow a similar promulgation schedule as previous reviews. However, on May 19, 2023, Governor McMaster signed 2023 S.C. Act 60 (Act), restructuring the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Pursuant to that legislation, DHEC and the DHEC Board were abolished, and South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES or Department) was created, effective July 1, 2024. Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. Section 48-6-20(A) and Section 14(B) of the Act, SCDES is vested with all the functions, powers, and duties of the environmental divisions, offices, and programs of DHEC including the power and duty to promulgate associated regulations. Therefore, some changes to the promulgation process are necessary. 

The preliminary stage consists of Department staff planning and preparation for the upcoming promulgation process. The Notice of Drafting officially kickstarts the rulemaking process, which will be immediately followed by a thirty-day public comment period. Stakeholder engagement provides multiple opportunities for the public to engage Department staff with questions or comments regarding regulation development. The Notice of Proposed Regulation reveals the Department’s proposed regulatory revisions to the public. This is typically followed by further stakeholder engagement and another opportunity for the public to ask questions or provide comments. The public hearing will take place either before the Administrative Law Court or at SCDES to meet the requirements of CWA Section 303(c) and 40 CFR 131.20. The Notice of Final Regulation shows the final version of the regulation once the Department has considered all comments received from stakeholders. The regulation is then delivered to the General Assembly for Legislative Review. Once approved by the General Assembly, the Department submits the final version of the regulation to EPA for review. If EPA chooses to approve the revisions, then the new or revised water quality standards may be used for purposes under the CWA.  

The Notice of Final Regulation shows the final version of the regulation once the Department has considered all comments received from stakeholders. The regulation is then delivered to the General Assembly for Legislative Review. Once approved by the General Assembly, the Department submits the final version of the regulation to EPA for review. If EPA chooses to approve the revisions, then the new or revised water quality standards may be used for purposes under the CWA.

EPA Triennial Kickoff

EPA provided several recommendations for the Department to consider during the triennial review in a letter sent on February 26, 2026.

EPA's 2026 Triennial Review Kickoff Letter

Notice of Drafting

The Notice of Drafting for the 2026 triennial review of R. 61-68 and R. 61-69 was published in the State Register on Friday, February 27, 2026. The public comment period opened on February 27th and will close on March 30th. Please submit any comments to Andrew Edwards at Bureau of Water, South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201 or wqs@des.sc.gov. To be considered during this triennial review, the Department must receive comments no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 30, 2026.

Notice of Drafting (2-27-2026)

The Department received the following comments in response to the Notice of Drafting:

Water Quality Standards Rule

EPA’s Water Quality Standards Regulatory Revisions were finalized in August 2015. The following document provides a summary of these revisions and describes how the final rule affects the 2026 Triennial Review.

EPA’s 2015 Water Quality Standards Regulatory Revisions

Stakeholder Meetings

The Department is hosting two stakeholder meetings to discuss the Notice of Drafting and to receive stakeholder input regarding water quality standards issues and potential revisions to R.61-68 and R.61-69.  

Stakeholder Meeting #1

Stakeholder Meeting #2

  • Tuesday May 12, 2026, 10:30 - 11:30 am 
    Linton Room (4011) 
    2600 Bull Street 
    Columbia, SC 29201 

EPA Triennial Kickoff

The EPA provided the Department with several recommendations to consider during the triennial review in a letter sent to the Department on August 3, 2021.

EPA’s 2022 Triennial Review Kickoff Letter

Notice of Drafting
The Notices of Drafting for the 2022 triennial review of Regulation 61-68, Water Classifications and Standards, and Regulation 61-69, Classified Waters, were published in the State Register on Friday, February 25, 2022. The public comment period closed on March 28, 2022.

The Department received the following comments in response to the Notice of Drafting:

The Department offers the following summary response to comments:

Summary of Public Comments and Department Responses

Water Quality Standards Rule
EPA’s Water Quality Standards Regulatory Revisions were finalized in August 2015. The following document provides a summary of these revisions and describes how the final rule affects the 2022 Triennial Review.

EPA’s 2015 Water Quality Standards Regulatory Revisions

Stakeholder Meetings
The Department hosted two stakeholder meetings to discuss the Notice of Drafting and to receive stakeholder input regarding water quality standards issues and potential revisions to R.61-68 and R.61-69.

Stakeholder Meeting #1

Stakeholder Meeting #2

Proposed Regulation
The proposed amendments to R.61-68, which the Department is considering include:

  • a standard for aquatic life ambient water quality criteria for aluminum
  • a revised recreational water quality standard for bacteria
  • a reorganized description clarifying the requirements of an alternatives analysis

Additionally, the Department is considering proposed amendments to R.61-69 to clarify and correct, as needed, waterbody names, counties, classes, and descriptions.

Department staff had initially considered including revisions to address narrative flow standards during this triennial review. However, staff determined more stakeholder involvement was necessary to evaluate appropriate revisions to narrative flow standards. Therefore, a separate regulatory promulgation process to specifically address this issue was initiated by the Department in July 2022. See the 2022 Narrative Flow Review section below to find the most updated information regarding possible amendments to these standards. 

The proposed amendments to R.61-68 and R.61-69 were presented to the DHEC Board on August 11, 2022. Following Board approval, the Notices of Proposed Regulation were published in the State Register on August 26, 2022.

As described in each notice, interested persons may submit comment(s) on the proposed amendments to Andrew Edwards, Water Quality Standards Coordinator of the Bureau of Water; S.C. Department of Environmental Services, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201; andrew.edwards@des.sc.gov. 

To be considered, the Department must receive the comment(s) by 5:00 p.m. on September 26, 2022, the close of the comment period.

The Department received the following comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Regulation:

The Department offers the following summary response to comments:

Summary of Public Comments and Department Responses

Staff Informational Forum
The Department hosted a Staff Informational Forum on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, to answer questions, clarify any issues, and receive comments from interested persons on the proposed amendments to R.61-68 and R.61-69. 

Final Regulation
The final revisions for Regulation 61-68 include changes to the text based on comments received in response to the Notice of Proposed Regulation that was published in the August 26, 2022, State Register. The following changes are being proposed for the Notice of Final Regulation.

  • R.61-68.E.2 – replacing “items 3-17” with “items 3-19” based on comments from EPA Region 4
  • R.61-68.G.4 – adding a comma based on comments from IDEXX
  • R.61-68.G.6 – adding a comma based on comments from IDEXX
  • R.61-68.Appendix – based on comments from SC Chamber of Commerce Department staff will delay the proposed adoption of the EPA recommended aluminum criteria for freshwater until the impacts to the State of this proposed regulatory change are further evaluated.

Public Hearing
The S.C. Board of Health and Environmental Control conducted a public hearing to review the final regulation during its November 10, 2022, 10:00 am meeting. Interested persons were able to make oral and/or submit written comments at the public hearing. The meeting took place in the Board Room of the SCDES Building, located at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201.

Legislative Review
The proposed amendments were referred to both the House Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee at the beginning of the 2023 legislative session. In accordance with the South Carolina Administrative Procedures Act, if a joint resolution to approve a regulation is not enacted within one hundred twenty days after the regulation is submitted to the General Assembly, or if a joint resolution to disapprove a regulation has not been introduced by a standing committee to which the regulation was referred for review, the regulation is effective upon publication in the State Register. Department staff presented the triennial review to members of the South Carolina House of Representatives Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee on March 7, 2023, to members of the South Carolina Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee on March 8, 2023, and to the full House of Representatives Committee on April 6, 2023. Following legislative review, the General Assembly took no action on the revisions to R.61-68 and R.61-69. The final revisions to both regulations were published as final in the May 26, 2023, State Register.

EPA Review
On September 27, 2023, Department staff submitted the results of the 2022 triennial review to EPA for review. EPA staff completed their review pursuant to Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act. On December 12, 2023, EPA staff sent the final decision document to the Department approving all revisions to the water quality standards.

Introduction

Department staff initially considered including revisions to address narrative flow standards during the 2022 triennial review. However, staff determined more stakeholder involvement was necessary to evaluate appropriate revisions to narrative flow standards. Therefore, a separate regulatory promulgation process to specifically address this issue was initiated by the Department in July 2022.

Notice of Drafting

The Notice of Drafting for narrative flow standards review for Regulation 61-68, Water Classifications and Standards, was published in the State Register on Friday, July 22, 2022. The public comment period closes on August 22, 2022.

R.61-68 Notice of Drafting (07-22-2022)

If you would like to submit comments regarding the narrative flow standards review, please contact Andrew Edwards at andrew.edwards@des.sc.gov.

Stakeholder Meetings

The Department hosted a stakeholder meeting on August 4, 2022, to discuss the Notice of Drafting and to receive stakeholder input regarding possible revisions to R.61-68 for narrative flow standards.  

The Department is evaluating stakeholder comments and planning to host future stakeholder meetings. This rulemaking has expired and will need to be reconsidered during a future review. 

Notice of Drafting

The Notices of Drafting for the 2019 triennial review of Regulation 61-68, Water Classifications and Standards, and Regulation 61-69, Classified Waters, were published in the State Register on Friday, February 22, 2019. The closing date for the public comment period was March 25, 2019.

The Department received the following comments in response to the Notice of Drafting:

The Department offers the following summary response to comments:

Summary of Public Comments and Department Responses

Water Quality Standards Rule

EPA’s Water Quality Standards Regulatory Revisions were finalized in August 2015. The following document provides a summary of these revisions and describes how the final rule affects the 2019 Triennial Review.

EPA’s 2015 Water Quality Standards Regulatory Revisions

Stakeholder Meetings

The Department hosted two stakeholder meetings to discuss the Notice of Drafting and to receive stakeholder input regarding Water Quality Standards issues and potential revisions to R.61-68 and R.61-69. Both meetings were open to the public, and the Department requested any interested parties to attend one of the stakeholder meetings.

Stakeholder Meeting #1

Stakeholder Meeting #2

Proposed Regulation

The proposed amendments to R.61-68, which the Department is considering include:

  • a revised standard for aquatic life ambient water quality criteria for cadmium
  • a revised recreational water quality standard for enterococci for Class SB waters
  • a standard for aquatic life ambient water quality criteria for carbaryl
  • a standard for human health recreational ambient water quality criteria for microcystins and cylindrospermopsin
  • calculation of the sample specific freshwater acute and chronic criterion for metals

Additionally, the Department is considering proposed amendments to R.61-69 to clarify and correct, as needed, waterbody names, counties, classes, and descriptions.

The proposed amendments to R.61-68 and R.61-69 were presented to the DHEC Board on August 8, 2019. The Notices of Proposed Regulation were published in the State Register on August 23, 2019.

As described in each notice, interested persons may submit comment(s) on the proposed amendments to Andrew Edwards, Water Quality Standards Coordinator of the Bureau of Water; S.C. Department of Environmental Services, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201; andrew.edwards@des.sc.gov.  

To be considered, the Department must receive the comment(s) by 5:00 p.m. on September 23, 2019, the close of the comment period.

The Department received the following comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Regulation:

Staff Informational Forum

The Department hosted a Staff Informational Forum to answer questions, clarify any issues, and receive comments from interested persons on the proposed amendments to R.61-68 and R.61-69. This forum was open to the public, and the Department requested any interested persons to attend.

Monday, September 23, 2019, 1:00 – 3:00 pm 
Linton Room (4011) 
2600 Bull Street 
Columbia, SC 29201

Final Regulation

The final amendments for Regulation 61-68 include a change in the text from the proposed amendments that were published in the August 23, 2019, State Register. The purpose for this change is to clarify the text regarding freshwater swimming advisories related to microcystins or cylindrospermopsin. The specific change in the text is highlighted below.

Proposed Revisions:

  • R.61-68.E.14.d(7): 
      (7) The assessment of total microcystins for purposes of issuing swimming advisories for freshwater recreational use will be based on the single sample maximum of 8 µg/L. Advisories will remain in effect until resample results indicate the toxin concentration falls below 8 µg/L.
  • R.61-68.E.14.d(9): 
       (9) The assessment of cylindrospermopsin for purposes of issuing swimming advisories for freshwater recreational use will be based on the single sample maximum of 15 µg/L. Advisories will remain in effect until resample results indicate the toxin concentration falls below 15 µg/L.

Final Revisions:

  • R.61-68.E.14.d(7): 
       (7) The assessment of total microcystins for purposes of issuing a swimming advisory for freshwater recreational use will be based on the single sample maximum of 8 µg/L. Once issued, the swimming advisory will remain in effect until resample results indicate the toxin concentration falls below 8 µg/L.
  • R.61-68.E.14.d(9): 
       (9) The assessment of cylindrospermopsin for purposes of issuing a swimming advisory for freshwater recreational use will be based on the single sample maximum of 15 µg/L. Once issued, the swimming advisory will remain in effect until resample results indicate the toxin concentration falls below 15 µg/L.
  • The final amendments for Regulation 61-69 remain the same as the proposed amendments that were published in the August 23, 2019 State Register.

The Notice of Final Regulation for both Regulation 61-68 and Regulation 61-69 was presented to the DHEC Board at the November 7, 2019 Board meeting.

Public Hearing

The S.C. Board of Health and Environmental Control conducted a public hearing on the proposed amendment during its November 7, 2019, 10:00 a.m. meeting.  Interested persons were able to make oral and/or submit written comments at the public hearing.  The meeting took place in the Board Room of the DHEC Building, located at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201.  

Legislative Review

The proposed amendments were referred to both the House Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee at the beginning of the 2020 legislative session. Neither of these two committees met to consider these proposed regulations within 120 days of the referral. Therefore, revisions to Regulation 61-68 Water Classifications & Standards and Regulation 61-69 Classified Waters became effective for purposes of state law and were published as final in the June 26, 2020 State Register.

EPA Review

The Department submitted the final water quality standards revisions to EPA Region 4 for review on March 2, 2021. EPA staff completed their review pursuant to Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act. Additionally, EPA coordinated this review with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act. On April 22, 2021 EPA staff sent the final decision document to the Department approving all revisions to the water quality standards.

Notice of Drafting

The Notice of Drafting for the 2016 triennial review of Regulation 61-68, Water Classifications and Standards, and Regulation 61-69, Classified Waters, was published in the State Register on Friday, February 26, 2016. The closing date for the public comment period was March 28, 2016.

Stakeholder Meeting

The Department met with stakeholders on June 22, 2016, to discuss the Notice of Drafting and to receive stakeholder input regarding the issues. The Department presented the proposed adoption of human health water quality criteria from EPA.

Proposed Regulation

DHEC has proposed to amend R.61-68 Appendix, Water Quality Numeric Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Life and Human Health Priority Toxic Pollutants and Non-Priority Pollutants. The proposed revised language is added to reflect the EPA's most recent recommendations and guidance concerning ambient water quality criteria for the protection of human health for ninety-four chemical pollutants and concerning aquatic life water quality criteria for cadmium.

The proposed amendments to R.61-68 Appendix were presented to the DHEC Board on September 8, 2016. The Notice of Proposed Regulation was published in the State Register on September 23, 2016. The closing date for the public comment period was October 24, 2016.

Staff Informational Forum

The Department held a Staff Informational Forum on October 24, 2016. The purpose of the forum was to answer questions, clarify any issues, and receive comments from interested persons on the proposed amendments to R.61-68. DHEC received comments on the proposed regulation from the following interested parties:

Hearing

The hearing date of December 8, 2016, has been postponed to respond to comments. 

  • lakeEPA has produced guidance in the form of a four-part test to answer the question of what makes a new or revised water quality standard.
  • Department staff prepared a strategy to pursue the adoption of numeric nutrient criteria for all surface waters of the state in 2004. The plan has since been revised in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2021. EPA has reviewed the Department’s most recently updated strategy and granted mutual agreement with the plan.
  • Department staff worked alongside staff from EPA and Georgia EPD to develop a strategy for adopting numeric nutrient criteria in the state’s estuaries.
  • One core component of the Department’s water quality standards is the antidegradation policy. This policy establishes the decision-making procedures which the Department follows to determine whether lowering the existing water quality is warranted and appropriate.
  • A section of the Department’s antidegradation policy describes naturally low dissolved oxygen waterbodies. The Department has established a dissolved oxygen methodology to determine whether to allow a de minimis deficit in waters not meeting numerical standards due to natural conditions.