Adopt-A-Beach Program
beach cleanup Adopt-A-Beach volunteers organize and participate in beach cleanups and provide marine debris collection data to the SCDES Bureau of Coastal Management using the MyCoast South Carolina reporting app. To get started, visit the MyCoast South Carolina Adopt-A-Beach homepage to register, establish a beach cleanup group, and select a beach to adopt. Once your group is registered,…, If you have any questions, please contact Lexi Mitchell at, Alexandra.Mitchell@des.sc.gov, . Thanks to everyone working to keep our coast clean and healthy!Dry Cleaners
Annual Report (pdf) Eligibility Criteria Containment Guidelines (pdf) Compliance Calendar Laws and Regulations Forms Sites by Priority (pdf) Sites by City (pdf) Sites by Name (pdf) Sites by File Number (pdf) Other Resources (SC DOR & SCSBAP) Advisory Council Members (pdf) State Coalition for Remediation of Drycleaners Report It! Permit Central Call 1-866-DHEC-DRY ( 1-866-343-2379 ) for more…Septic Tanks - Residential, Single Home Builder
Incorrectly installed septic systems can harm water quality and make people sick, which is why South Carolina law requires site approvals and permits for all septic systems. If you are planning to build a home or place a manufactured home on property not served by a public or community sewer system, you must first obtain SCDES's approval and a permit to install a septic system. Without this…, General: Application & Permit Process, Application Fee: $150 Step 1: Onsite Wastewater System Application (D-1740) will need to be submitted online through the ePermitting Portal . You will also need to submit a copy of the property’s plat or deed. If you do not have a copy of the plat or deed, click here for more information on how to obtain a copy. Step 2: Your application will be reviewed to be sure that all necessary paperwork is…, Residential: Permit Needed for Septic Systems, Because incorrectly installed septic systems can harm water quality and make people sick, South Carolina law requires site approvals and permits for all septic systems. If you are planning to build a home or place a manufactured home on property not served by a public or community sewer system, you must first obtain SCDES's approval and a permit to install a septic system. Without this permit,…, Please be aware of how the weather affects our schedules. If the soil is too wet, we may not be able to do a proper evaluation. Soil evaluations may have to be delayed until the soil has had time to dry out which adds to the time it takes to issue your permit. This is similar to farmers having to delay planting or harvesting their crops. If there has been too much rain, they can't get into the…, Backhoe Pit Evaluations, When conducting soil evaluations above the South Carolina Fall Line, onsite wastewater inspectors have a higher chance of hitting rock obstructions when digging, and therefore cannot complete the evaluation using a hand auger. Because of this, sites that are located above the Fall Line will require backhoe pits for the Department to conduct a soil evaluation. To determine if your site is located…, Maintain Your System, Regular maintenance of your septic tank system will save you costly repairs, prevent people from getting sick and protect water quality. Below are links to information to help you properly maintain your system. Safety Tips Maintenance Tips Pumping Out the Tank Backups, Leaks, Odors If you need to find a septic contractor (e.g., installer, pumper/hauler or tank manufacturer), you can use this…, SCDES is Here to Help You, Use our Frequently Asked Questions for quick help answering common questions. If you have additional questions and need help, please call your local Environmental Affairs Office . If you need to report a sewage complaint, use our ChatBot tool . Help is available 24/7.SCDES Procurement Services
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services's Procurement Services Division is located at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201. Procurement Services may be reached at, procurement@des.sc.gov, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday except for official holidays. , Solicitations and Awards, SCDES uses the South Carolina Enterprise Information System ( SCEIS ) for its purchasing activities, including solicitations and awards. Solicitations and awards for SCDES, and other S.C. agencies and entities using SCEIS, can be found in the Contracting Opportunities area. You will also find South Carolina Business Opportunities ( SCBO ), which advertises solicitations from all agencies with an…, Purchasing Card Transactions, The SC Comptroller General's Office provides detailed charge card usage reports for all participating state agencies. The Purchasing Card program includes limited-use charge cards issued under a contract between state government and Bank of America. The state-wide monthly reports can be found at: https://cg.sc.gov/fiscal-transparency/monthly-charge-card-usage, Internal Authority, The South Carolina State Fiscal Accountability Authority (SFAA) has certified SCDES to make direct procurements subject to compliance with the Consolidated Procurement Code and Regulations not to exceed for each procurement transaction the dollar amounts listed below: Supplies and Services = $1,500,000 per commitment Information Technology = $150,000 per commitmentCritical Area Permitting
SCDES BCM’s Critical Area Permitting Section reviews proposed alterations to the, Coastal Waters and Tidelands, critical areas to ensure they are consistent with the SC Coastal Tidelands and Wetlands Act, SC Coastal Division Regulations, and the policies of the South Carolina Coastal Management Program . Any person wishing to alter a critical area must receive authorization from BCM. Activities within the coastal waters and tidelands critical areas that are reviewed by the Critical Area Permitting…Critical Area Permitting - Public Engagement and Permit Appeals
Public Comment Process A photo of SCDES staff at a public hearing, Interested parties may visit the SCDES public notice page to review a project description and associated plans, and to submit public comments. All comments must be received within the public notice period. If twenty or more people request a public hearing in writing on the pending permit, SCDES BCM will hold a public hearing in the county where the activity is located., Permit Appeal Procedure, Once SCDES BCM staff make a decision regarding a permit application, an adversely affected party may appeal the decision. S.C. Code Ann. § 48-6-30(D)(2) provides, “Within thirty calendar days after the mailing of a decision [pursuant to S.C. Code Ann.§ 48-6-30(D)(1)], an applicant, permittee, licensee, certificate holder, or affected person desiring to contest the department decision may request…, Contact, To get in contact with the SCDES BCM Critical Area Permitting Division please call (843) 953-0200 , or visit the Project Manager Finder Application to find contact information for SCDES BCM project managers by geographic area.Well Water Quality Testing Services
To test the water from a residential well, a well owner can obtain a sample kit from their local South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) Regional Office or Health Department . There are two types of kits, one for a coliform bacteria test and one for a metals and minerals analysis. Each kit includes a form to fill out, sterile bottle, and instruction sheet. Follow the…, *Do not pay for the analysis when you drop off your sample; your invoice will accompany the analytical results*, *The SCDES laboratory will not be accepting metals and mineral samples from June 1st to October 1st, 2026*, *SCDES DOES NOT REGULATE THE WATER QUALITY OF PRIVATE WELLS*, *IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THESE TESTS ARE NOT USED FOR REAL-ESTATE TRANSACTIONS*, Fees, Individual Residential Well Monitoring fees are to be charged for water samples collected by individuals from their residential well and submitted to SCDES for analysis. These fees will not be charged if the samples are considered part of a SCDES groundwater contamination investigation and may be waived or reduced based on the individual's ability to pay. Ambient water samples and samples from…, Types of Tests, For help understanding the water test results, please visit the Be Well Informed webpage. This site can provide feedback on health concerns and water treatment choices., Per– and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), This form allows individual private well owners to apply for PFAS (per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) assessment of their drinking water wells. SCDES staff (or applicable contractors) will sample, test, and provide remediation recommendations. For wells where PFAS are detected, well owners may be eligible for installation of filtration technology or provided funding to connect to…, Coliform Bacteria Test - $20 Per Test, The water analysis that residential well owners request most often is the test for coliform bacteria. These bacteria are common in the environment and are generally not harmful. The water sample is tested for the presence of coliform bacteria using the total coliform test. If coliform bacteria are detected, the same water sample is tested for the presence of E. coli, as these germs can cause…, You will receive the results by mail in two to three weeks, along with an explanation of the results., Metals and Minerals Analysis - $50 Per Test, The SCDES laboratory will not be accepting metals and mineral samples from June 1st to October 1st, 2026, The other common analysis conducted for residential well water is the metals and minerals analysis. The water sample is analyzed for:, Alkalinity, Calcium, Chloride, Copper, Hardness, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese, Nitrate/Nitrite, pH, and Zinc, You will receive the results by mail in six to eight weeks, along with a booklet explaining the results. Additional inorganic parameters can be added to the analysis, each for a $25 fee including, but not limited to:, Fluoride, Sodium, and Total Dissolved Solids, Chemical Parameters - Not Applicable, For Volatile Organic Chemicals, Herbicides, Pesticides, Other Synthetic Organic Parameters, please contact a Commercial Laboratory ., Well Disinfection, Although aquifers are generally free of harmful bacteria, the drilling process can bring bacteria down the borehole. After construction of the well is completed, the well is to be disinfected. However, through time the well owner may notice a difference in the taste or odor of their water. If warranted, the well owner is contacted to recommend actions such as Well Disinfection or inspection.…Detailed Description of Permitting Process for Wastewater Treatment Systems
General Information Upgrades (Not Expansions) of Wastewater Treatment Systems New or Expanding Wastewater Treatment Systems Permit Process Phases Preliminary Engineering Report Phase Submittal Package Administrative Processing Effluent Limitations Guidelines Wasteload Allocations for Surface Water Discharges Antidegradation Considerations Sludge Considerations Coordination with other SCDES…SC Pool Operator of Record
SCDES now recognizes four (5) nationally accredited pool operator certification trainers: Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (formerly National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) and Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP)) SC Locations: See above link for class locations and dates. The American Pool and Spa Association SC Locations: See above link for class locations and dates. Starfish Aquatics…, Links to entities offering SC POR Courses are listed below:, Chocklett Environmental Services (803) 940-0508 www.chocklettes.org JayC@chocklettes.org Coastal Carolina University (843) 349-6453 www.coastal.edu/recreation mmiller@coastal.edu Contractors Seminars, Inc. (866) 772-9596 www.scexams.com Horry Georgetown Technical College (843) 477-0808 www.hgtc.edu Pool Guy Trainers 28 Mill Street Inman, SC 29349 Kevin Newman (864) 316-9970 Poolguytrainers@…, DO NOT, include the SC Pool Operators exam. Registration for the exam must be made separately here: Applied Measurement Professionals 18000 West 105th Street Olathe, KS 66061 Attn: Examination Services, Toll Free, 1-800-345-6559, or , www.goamp.comActive Corrective Action Open Bids
Active Corrective Action Open Solicitations, State Lead solicitations are solicited through the Procurement Services Division . Owner/Operator Lead solicitations are solicited through the tank owner. For all open ACA solicitations, the technical file will be made available for review until the Initial Corrective Action Plan is approved. The information provided is for convenience purposes only and does not contain all available information…, Freedom of Information (FOI) Office, or call phone (803) 898-3880., UST Solicitation Site Files (pdf), 11946 (ALL) - 1 of 7 11946 (ALL) - 2 of 7 11946 (ALL) - 3 of 7 11946 (ALL) - 4 of 7 11946 (ALL) - 5 of 7 11946 (ALL) - 6 of 7 11946 (ALL) - 7 of 7 02131 (ALL) 08641 (ALL) 07960 (ALL) 1 of 3 07960 (ALL) 2 of 3 07960 (ALL) 3 of 3 18856 (ALL) 1 of 2 18856 (ALL) 2 of 2 10628 (ALL) 1 of 2 10628 (ALL) 2 of 2 02314 (ALL) 1 of 2 02314 (ALL) 2 of 2 12175 (ALL) 1 of 2 12175 (ALL) 2 of 2 07584 (ALL) 1 of 7…, Contact, Debra Thoma, Manager, 803-898-0643 & Stephanie Briney, Manager, 803-898-0595