Safe Swimming in Natural Waterbodies
SCDES Reopens Shellfish Harvesting Beds in Georgetown County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 22, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C., ―, The S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) has reopened shellfish harvesting beds in Georgetown County that were previously closed due to excessive rainfall, the agency announced today. "Water quality data indicate that bacteria levels are once again suitable for shellfish harvesting in Shellfish Management Area 05, which includes North Inlet and Winyah Bay,", said Mike Marshall, manager of SCDES's Shellfish Sanitation Section., For more information on clam and oyster harvesting areas in Georgetown County, call SCDES’s Myrtle Beach Environmental Affairs Office at 843-238-4378 . Learn more about SCDES's Shellfish Sanitation Program at des.sc.gov/shellfish. ###SCDES Seeks Public’s Help in Reporting Invasive Giant Salvinia Plant in Lake Wateree
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 22, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — The S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) is seeking the public’s assistance in reporting sightings of the invasive giant salvinia (, Salvinia molesta, ) plant that’s been identified in Lake Wateree, which is located in Fairfield, Kershaw and Richland counties. Because of its destructive impact on aquatic ecosystems and interference with boating, fishing and recreation, giant salvinia is prohibited in the United States by federal law. Giant salvinia is an invasive floating fern originating from Brazil. South Carolina waterways, especially in…, Anyone who believes they've located the plant should contact SCDES’s Aquatic Nuisance Plants Program:, , Email:, invasiveweeds@des.sc.gov, , Phone: 803-898-0033, , Or , click here, to submit an online sighting report, Picture , Left: Giant salvinia, the small floating plants, is pictured mixed with cutgrass. Photo courtesy of Duke Energy. Right: A mature giant salvinia plant with a salvinia weevil is pictured. Photo courtesy of Santee Cooper., SCDES’s Aquatic Nuisance Plant Program is working closely with Duke Energy, which manages the lake, to eradicate this invasive plant from Lake Wateree as quickly as possible. To date, approximately 11 acres of giant salvinia have been identified in and around the cove on the north side of Lake Wateree State Park. For additional information about SCDES’s role with protecting South Carolina…Draft Santee River Basin Plan Public Meeting
The S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) invites residents to attend an upcoming meeting to review and provide comments about the draft Santee River Basin Plan . The draft plan was developed over a 10-month period by the Santee River Basin Council, a working group of stakeholders with water interests in the basin, under the guidance of the South Carolina State Water Planning…, The public meeting is 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Auditorium at Santee Cooper’s Main Office, 1 Riverwood Drive, Moncks Corner, SC. (, Directions via Google Maps, ). , The Nov. 18 public meeting will serve as a venue for presenting the draft plan to the basin’s stakeholders and for soliciting comments about it. Public comments will be accepted from Nov. 18 through Dec. 17; comment submission instructions are at the website noted above. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to meet River Basin Council members and enjoy light refreshments beginning at 5:30 p.m.Giant Salvinia
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
What is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)?, The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is a federal law enacted the Environmental Protection Agency in 1976 that established a regulatory system to track hazardous wastes from the point of generation to disposal. It established a “cradle to grave” process for management of hazardous waste (spent oil, cleaning agents, pesticides, etc.). The law requires the use of safe and secure…, RCRA Regulations, You may access the S.C. Hazardous Waste Management Regulations at this link - R.61-79.pdf . DHEC periodically revises the S.C. Hazardous Waste Management Regulations to remain consistent with the EPA hazardous waste management regulations. Updates to the S.C. Hazardous Waste Management Regulations are described on this webpage - Hazardous Waste Management Regulations Status . Additional…, What does a RCRA permit do?, A RCRA permit establishes requirements for properly managing hazardous waste. RCRA Permits are issued for any one or a combination of the following activities: Treatment- use processes to alter the character or composition of hazardous waste Storage- temporarily store hazardous waste until it is treated or disposed Disposal- permanently contain waste Corrective Action - Cleanup of past…, What is the RCRA Corrective Action Process?, Establishes a framework for facilities (Commercial, DoD, etc.) to investigate and clean-up hazardous waste contamination. The facilities are required to clean up all affected media (soil, groundwater, surface water, and air). DHEC oversees all stages of the process., RCRA Public Participation, The goal of Public Participation in RCRA is to involve the public early and often in the permitting process. This allows the public multiple opportunities to learn about the facility operations and to provide input both to SCDES and the facility. There are two types of public meetings held as part of the public participation process: Facility-led SCDES-led Facility-led meetings The RCRA…Savannah River Site
The Savannah River Site (SRS) is post-Cold War-era nuclear material production facility that sits on a 310-square mile area shared by Aiken, Barnwell, and Allendale counties. In 1995, the Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency formed an Agreement in Principle (AIP) with DHEC to create the Environmental Surveillance and Oversight Program (ESOP) and Federal Facility …, Quick Links, Emergency Response, ESOP Monitoring Data & Sampling Locations, Map, Federal Facility Agreement, Learn More, Land, sea, air icon Environmental Surveillance & Oversight Program, About ESOP, Monitoring Data, Sampling Locations & Maps, Clipboard icon Cleanup & Remediation, Federal Facility Agreement, RCRA Federal Facilities, High-Level Waste Tanks, Vital records icon Improving Air Quality & Water, Bureau of Air Quality Permits, Bureau of Water PermitsLower Savannah-Salkehatchie Basin Planning Meetings
Two public meetings were held on August 24 and August 29, 2023 to introduce the new Planning Framework to stakeholders. Formal Council meetings will begin in fall, 2023. Agendas, presentations, meeting recordings, and meeting summaries can be accessed below., Planning MeetingsAsbestos in Your Home
There are only two ways to determine if a material contains asbestos. The first way is to contact the manufacturer of the product. If you are not sure who the manufacturer of the product is, the individuals who installed the material may know. If you are unable to track down the origin of the material, the only other way to determine if asbestos is present it to have the material tested by a…, Inside, A. Asbestos cement water tank B. Pipe lagging C. Loose fill insulation D. Textured decorative coating eg artex E. AIB ceiling tiles F. AIB bath panel G. Toilet seat and cistern H. AIB behind fuse box I. AIB airing cupboard and/or sprayed insulation coating boiler J. AIB partition wall, Outside, O. Gutters and asbestos cement downpipes P. Soffits – AIB or asbestos cement Q. AIB exterior window panel R. Asbestos cement roof S. Asbestos cement panels T. Roofing felt, AIB = Asbestos Insulating Board, Samples of suspect asbestos-containing material from a private residence can be taken by asbestos professionals or by the homeowner himself. A list of asbestos professionals can be found here or by checking the yellow pages of your local phone book under the heading "Environmental Consultants". A list can also be obtained from SCDES free of charge. If you decide to sample a suspect asbestos-…, Contact, Asbestos Section (803) 898-4289SCDES Reminds South Carolinians to Swim Safely this Summer at Pools, Lakes and Beaches
FOR IMMEIDATE RELEASE: May 23, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. ― In recognition of Healthy and Safe Swimming Week (May 19-25), the S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) reminds South Carolinians how important it is to practice safe swimming and take educated precautions when enjoying a swimming pool, lake, river, ocean, hot tub or splashpad. While SCDES has key roles in water safety – such as…, Natural waters ― like lakes, rivers and the ocean ― are not sterile environments, and the presence of harmful bacteria, viruses and other organisms that can cause illness is always a possibility. , The week before Memorial Day, which is considered by many to be the unofficial start of summer, is recognized as Healthy and Safe Swimming Week to focus on the health benefits of water-based physical activity while minimizing the risk of recreational water-associated illness. Following recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Environmental Protection…, Pools and hot tubs, When you first arrive at a pool, take a rinse in the shower, then dry off and apply sunscreen. The amount of dirt and oil on your skin can throw off the balance of chemicals in the water keeping you safe. Don’t go to the bathroom or let children go to the bathroom in a pool, and try not to swallow any water. Germs in the water can make people sick if they swallow just a mouthful of…, Cryptosporidium, , can survive in properly treated pools. Know the risk of Legionnaires’ disease associated with hot tubs . While, Legionella, bacteria are found naturally in the environment, known cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been linked to hot tubs that didn’t have proper control measures in place., Beaches, lakes, rivers and streams, Use the CheckMyBeach webpage or SCDES's Beach Monitoring webpage for any swimming advisories due to elevated bacteria levels in ocean waters. SCDES monitors ocean water quality at more than 120 locations along South Carolina’s beaches. South Carolina lakes, rivers, streams and the coast are great places to cool off, but, there is always a potential risk when swimming in natural water bodies. , It’s always recommended that individuals evaluate a waterbody before entering in it. If a waterbody looks discolored, has a foul odor, noticeable algal mats, or dead fish or other animals, it’s advisable to not enter the water or allow pets or animals near that water. Algae blooms can be very fast growing and become an issue before the Department has been made aware of them. SCDES's Harmful…, It's always advised to not entire a natural waterbody if you have open wounds., Different pathogens exist naturally in lakes and rivers that can cause infection by entering the body through cuts and lesions. For more information, visit SCDES's Safe Swimming webpage ( des.sc.gov/safeswimming ), or learn more from the EPA and CDC . ###