Boil Water Emergencies
Sometimes a situation occurs where the safeness (due to biological or chemical contamination) or the availability of water is a concern for the proper operation of a food service facility. When the water supply may have been biologically contaminated a Boil Water Advisory will be issued. If it is confirmed that the water supply has been biologically contaminated, a Drinking Water Warning (…, Drinking Water Warning Instructions and Fillable Form Drinking Water Warning Fillable Form only Drinking Water Warning Example If a boil water, advisory, is issued for your area, it means that the water supply in your area may be contaminated, either by a sewage overflow, a water line break, a chemical spill, a natural disaster such as a hurricane or flood, or some other unusual event., Please check with your local government for the status of boil water advisories in your area., If your public water system issues a Drinking Water Warning, it means the water in your area is definitely contaminated. Your family members could get very sick if they drink the water or use it to cook food., Instructions for businesses, Download instructions for business (pdf). Download instructions for business - Español (pdf) Download instructions for business - Chinese (pdf) Download instructions for business - Portuguese (pdf), How to purify bacteria-contaminated water by boiling:, Bring water to a rolling boil and keep it there for at least 1 full minute. Then, let it cool before using. Stop using appliances and equipment that use drinkable water, such as dishwashers, icemakers, tea brewers and coffee makers. Use disposable paper, plastic or foam plates, cups, forks, etc. Prepare food using water that has been boiled. Wash hands with water that has been boiled and cooled.…, How to purify bacteria-contaminated water with bleach, If you can't boil contaminated water to kill impurities, you can use bleach: Use unscented liquid chlorine bleach containing 4 to 6 percent available or free chlorine. ("Free" chlorine has not combined with organic matter and is therefore available for killing bacteria and algae.) Add 1 teaspoon of bleach to every 4 gallons of water. Let the treated water stand for 30 minutes before drinking or…, Chemical contamination, Never use water that has been or may have been contaminated with chemicals. Do not use it for cooking, drinking, hand washing, pets, etc., until the water has been declared safe by SCDES or your local water authority., Private wells, If you use a well you will want to make sure that it is not contaminated with bacteria. Do not use the water from your well until it has been tested. For information on how to have your water tested and your well disinfected, contact your local Environmental Affairs office . For more information, see SCDES Residential Well Disinfection (PDF) or view Emergency Well Disinfection ., Related Topics, Residential Well Disinfection (PDF) Septic Systems - What to Do after the Flood (EPA)Reporting a Potential Coastal Violation
Citizens are encouraged to report possible violations of the S.C. Coastal Zone Management Act. Reports can be submitted via ePermitting through an, Environmental Complaint Submission, or by email to , complianceenforcement-bcm@des.sc.gov, . Your report will remain confidential. However, please call (843) 953-0200 if you wish to remain anonymous. SCDES BCM compliance and enforcement personnel will investigate reports of possible violations, take appropriate action and, if requested, notify the person making the report of any action taken., Resources, Uniform Enforcement Policy for SCDES BCM, SC Coastal Zone Management Act, Civil Penalty InformationSocial Media Terms of Use
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) maintains a social media presence for the purpose of engaging and interacting with our community. , Limited Public Forum, All social media platforms used by SCDES are designated as Limited Public Forums. The agency welcomes a person’s right to express his/her opinion and encourages posters to keep comments relevant to the topic in question. Posting of any content on any social media platform used by SCDES, by any visitor, follower, subscriber or fan, constitutes acceptance of the terms of use described here in this…, Moderation of Content, SCDES's social media platforms are intended to be "family friendly." When applicable, the agency uses platform-provided content moderation/filtering options to limit foul or obscene content. SCDES does monitor the social media platforms used by the agency, and will remove inappropriate content as defined below, without prior notice, and as soon as possible. The department shall reserve the right…, Facebook's Community of Standards, All comments posted to SCDES’s Facebook page are bound by, Facebook’s Community Standards, , and SCDES reserves the right to report any violation of Facebook’s Community Standards to Facebook with the intent of Facebook taking appropriate and reasonable responsive action., YouTube Community Guidelines, When applicable, SCDES reserves the right to report any violation of the, YouTube Community Guidelines, , with the intent of YouTube taking appropriate and reasonable responsive action., LinkedIn User Agreement, When applicable, SCDES reserves the right to report any violation of the, LinkedIn User Agreement, , with the intent of LinkedIn taking appropriate and reasonable responsive action., Flickr Community Guidelines, When applicable, SCDES reserves the right to report any violation of the, Flickr Community Guidelines, , with the intent of Flickr taking appropriate and reasonable responsive action.Nondiscrimination
Translation and Interpreter Services, South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) has translation and interpreter services available for applicants and recipients of covered SCDES services and members of the public for public hearings. If you speak a language other than English or need alternate means of communication, such as sign language or large print, please notify the staff at your SCDES local office, a…, compliance@des.sc.gov, or at, (803) 898-3944, ., Nondiscrimination, SCDES does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, or sex in administration of its programs or activities. SCDES does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 CFR Parts 5 and 7, or for the…, compliance@des.sc.gov, Phone:, (803) 898-3944, , Discrimination Complaint Process, SCDES does not discriminate in service delivery on the bases of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or sex as required by applicable state and federal laws and regulations. SCDES employees and those representing SCDES shall not intimidate, threaten, harass, coerce, discriminate against, or otherwise retaliate against anyone who has filed…, Complaint Process, Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination as detailed above, or based on the denial of interpretation or translation services, may file a complaint with the SCDES Compliance Office. Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged discrimination. Complete an, SCDES Discrimination Complaint Form (D-2780), (, Formulario de reclamo por discriminación (D-2780-S), ) or provide the following information in as much detail as possible: The name of the person filing the complaint - If completing the form for someone else, please include your name and the complainant’s name. Contact information for the person filing the complaint. If completing the form for someone else, please include your contact information and the complainant’s contact information. If we…, Mail:, Kayla David, SCDES Compliance Officer | 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, Email:, compliance@des.sc.gov Complaints also may be taken via, telephone, at, (803) 898-3944, . The Compliance Office will respond to the complaint within thirty (30) calendar days and will take reasonable steps to resolve the matter. The complainant may be contacted for more information. At the conclusion of the Compliance Office’s investigation, the complainant will be notified of the summary of the allegations, findings, and any action(s) to be taken. , Additional Information, In addition to the process above, a person may choose to file a complaint with the following federal agency:, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Office of the Assistant Attorney General 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530 Phone: (202) 514-4609 Anonymous complaints will be handled in the same manner as any other complaints to the extent feasible based on the information provided. SCDES may choose not to accept anonymous complaints of discrimination, but instead may choose to evaluate the concerns raised as a compliance or…FOIA Policies and Procedures
I. GENERAL, It is hereby the policy of the Department of Environmental Services that records of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (hereinafter "Department") be open to the public for inspection and copying pursuant to, and subject to any limitations of, the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), S.C. Code Ann. 30-4-10 et seq. (1976, as amended). Further, that the Department…, II. FOI CENTER POLICY AND PROCEDURES, A. General., The Department of Environmental Services receives a substantial number of FOI requests in the central office as well as in its district offices throughout the state. The SCDES FOI Center is being established to ensure that all requests are handled in a consistent manner and in conformity with the FOIA. The FOI Center shall be located at the: SCDES Central Office Building 2600 Bull Street Columbia…, (803) 898-3882, ., B. Receipt of Request/Procedure to Process., All FOI requests, must be in writing, . No particular form is required, although a standard form may be downloaded from the previous page or will be provided upon request. A FOIA request log shall be maintained at the FOI Center, and all requests will be logged in regardless of where the files are reviewed. If the requested records are available, the FOI Center shall coordinate with appropriate program areas to arrange for retrieval…, C. Referral of Requests to Office of General Counsel., Certain requests which may involve ongoing litigation, enforcement activities, or confidentiality may be referred to the Office of General Counsel for advice, or where appropriate, a response. Certain requests may require a determination to be made regarding confidentiality, trade secret, or other FOIA or separate statutory exemption from release. In such cases, the requestor will be notified…, D. Response to Request/Notification., Within fifteen working days of receipt of a written FOI request, the Department must, in accordance with Section 30-4-30(c), make a determination in writing to the requestor regarding the release of the requested records. If the records are available, the requestor will be notified and instructed to contact the FOI Center to schedule a time and place where the records may be inspected or copied…, E. Policy on Fees., Section 30-4-30(b) provides for the establishment and collection of reasonable fees and for certain exemptions. These fees are subject to change. A current schedule of fees will be available from the FOI Coordinator. Fees will include both the cost of reproduction and personnel costs for research and retrieval.Solid Waste
Demonstration of Need Required Financial Assurance Facilities Lists Compliance and Enforcement Composting and Wood Grinding Lead Acid Batteries Used Oil Waste Tire Haulers Consolidated Waste Solid Waste Landfills and Structural Fill Regulation Training Programs for Operators of Landfills & MSW Transfer Stations 2018 Changes to Solid Waste Policy & Management Act (pdf) Related Topics…S.C. Environmental Awareness Award Presented to ‘Save Our Saluda’ President Melanie Ruhlman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 3, 2026 COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) and participating state agencies proudly announce Melanie Ruhlman, president of “Save Our Saluda”, as the recipient of the 2025 South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award. Ms. Ruhlman was presented with this annual statewide award during a ceremony held Feb. 3 at EdVenture…Ozone
Ozone is a highly reactive, colorless gas pollutant that is not typically emitted directly into the air by any one source. Instead, ozone is considered a secondary pollutant, which means that it is formed through complex chemical reactions of molecules in the air. Specifically, ground-level ozone is formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) chemically react in the…2020 Tide Tables
"Pernicious Beauty" - Photo by Kristen Kappel, Download a convenient desk version of the 2020 Tide Chart, Quick Views:, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, Note: All times indicated are for Charleston - Custom House. Tide heights relative to Mean Lower Low Water., Tide data provided courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Location Correction Information, Location High Tide Time Difference Cherry Grove +10 min. Myrtle Beach, Springmaid Pier -26 min. Socastee Bridge ICWW +3 hr. 26 min. Garden City Pier -26 min. Litchfield Beach Bridge +44 min. Pawleys Island Pier -24 min. Winyah Bay Entrance -21 min. Georgetown, Sampit River +1 hr. 25 min. Isle of Palms Pier -25 min. Cooper River, Goose Creek Entrance +43 min. Ashley River, Magnolia Gardens +1 hr.…, Distribution Locations - Limited to Supply On-Hand, The 2020 Tide Tables Posters are now available! Quantities will be limited to supply on-hand at select SCDES-OCRM office locations., Myrtle Beach/Grand Strand, 927 Shine Ave. Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, Charleston, 1362 McMillan Ave. Suite 400 Charleston, SC 29405, Beaufort, 104 Parker Drive Beaufort, SC 29906, Tide Charts are not intended for individual retail sale., For all order inquiries, please contact , Elizabeth Hartje, , , 843-953-9237, .Asbestos Removal & Safety for Homeowners & Businesses after a Severe Weather Event
When working on cleanup and rebuilding efforts after a severe weather event, it's important to be aware of potential asbestos-containing materials that could pose a health risk if not handled properly. Disturbing asbestos-containing materials during building repairs, renovations, or demolitions can release asbestos fibers or dust particles into the air, allowing them to be ingested or inhaled., Download the, Asbestos Fact Sheet for Severe Weather Event, ., Presence of Asbestos, Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance, asbestos has been used in a variety of building materials such as siding, ceiling and floor tiles, stucco, sheetrock/joint compound, ceiling texture (popcorn ceiling), caulking, mastics, insulation, and roofing materials. Regardless of the age of a building, asbestos-containing materials may have been used during construction of the building.…, What is Regulated?, Federal and state asbestos regulations typically do not apply to work done in residential buildings having four or fewer dwelling units. However, if a homeowner wants a licensed asbestos contractor to remove materials, make repairs, or renovate or demolish their home, the contractor must comply with all asbestos regulations. The regulations do apply to any institutional, commercial, public, or…, Exposure to Asbestos, Asbestos fibers may be released into the air by disturbing asbestos-containing materials during building repairs, renovations, or demolitions. In general, exposure may occur only when the asbestos-containing material is disturbed or damaged in such a way that releases dust particles and fibers into the air. Asbestos-containing materials that have not been disturbed can safely remain in place., People at Greatest Risk for Health Effects from Asbestos, People exposed to asbestos on a regular basis, such as contractors who don't follow federal and state health-protective regulations for asbestos, are most at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases. Those who are exposed to large amounts of asbestos over a period of time have a greater chance of developing harmful health effects, such as lung cancer or other respiratory diseases. Disease…, Minimizing Asbestos Exposure, If homeowners decide to do work on their homes themselves or hire a non-licensed asbestos contractor, the following work practices and procedures should be followed to minimize airborne asbestos fiber releases and personal exposure: Keep the material that may contain asbestos wet at all times. A low-pressure garden sprayer adjusted to "mist" can be used. Water helps keep asbestos fibers from…, here for a list of landfills, that accept asbestos. Obtain a disposal permit from the Asbestos Section before you dispose of asbestos-containing material by using, this link for a Notification of Residential Non-friable Asbestos Abatement Project., This notification must be submitted to the Asbestos Section in order for the homeowner to receive a disposal permit. Owners of regulated buildings must use SCDES-licensed asbestos removal contractors to remove regulated asbestos containing materials before renovation or demolition activities can take place. These contractors must comply with state and federal asbestos regulations., Licensed Contractors, SCDES issues licenses for asbestos contractors. A list of licensed contractors that can perform asbestos abatement and demolition activities in South Carolina can be found by, clicking here., Memorandum - Asbestos Response to Hurricane Florence, More Information, Additional information about asbestos is available at, https://des.sc.gov/programs/bureau-air-quality/asbestos, or by calling, (803) 898-4289, .