WaterSC Meetings
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s)
By definition an MS4 is a system of conveyances that include, but are not limited to, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, pipes, tunnels, and/or storm drains that discharge into, Waters of the State, . For these conveyances or system of conveyances to be recognized as an MS4, a state, city, town, village, or other public entity must own them. These conveyances must also not be part of a Publicly Owned Treatment Works and may not operate as a combined sewer. Operators of large, medium and regulated small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems are required to obtain, NPDES permit coverage, in order to discharge pollutants into Waters of the State. These designations (large, medium, and small) are based on urbanized areas as determined by the latest census. South Carolina has one (1) large MS4 - the South Carolina Department of Transportation and three (3) medium MS4s -, City of Columbia, Greenville County, and Richland County., These MS4s receive individual NPDES permits for their discharges. There are also over, 70 regulated small MS4s, in South Carolina. The operators of these may choose to receive coverage under a general permit or obtain individual permit coverage. Documents icon, Technical Documents, Download all MS4 related documents including the general permit, worksheets and checklists. Links icon, Stormwater Contacts, Need to get in touch with an MS4 representative? Check out the MS4 Contact Page for recent regulator information. Stormwater drain pipe icon, Stormwater Links, All internal and external links related to the MS4 Community., Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), Large and Medium MS4s must prepare and submit a permit application to address each of the following elements: Structural control maintenance Areas of significant development or redevelopment Roadway runoff management Flood control related to water quality issues Municipal owned operations such as landfills, wastewater treatment plants, etc. Hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal sites,…Stormwater - Construction Activities
2026 Construction General Permit, - 2026 Construction General Permit - Formal Response to Comments, SCDES held an informational session on Feb. 5, 2026., -, Information Session Recording, -, Informational Session PresentationInfectious Waste Package, Storage, Transport, Treatment
How should infectious waste be packaged and stored?, Sharps must be placed in rigid, leak- and puncture-resistant containers secured tightly. All other waste should be stored and maintained in a rigid or semi-rigid leak-proof container. Containers must be strong enough to resist bursting and tearing during handling and transport and must be able to be closed tightly and securely. Plastic bags used inside containers must be red or orange. Reusable…, Transport/Treatment of Waste, Rules:, Containers must be labeled properly before transport. Labeling must be clearly visible and include: Biohazard symbol Infectious Waste Program Registration Number Date the container was placed in storage or sent off-site Words INFECTIOUS WASTE (or BIO-HAZARDOUS WASTE or MEDICAL WASTE). Before waste can be transported, it must be manifested. This manifest must accompany waste at all times after…, Attention, Infectious Waste Registrations and Renewals can now be completed online using ePermitting. Please use the link below to complete a new registration or renew an existing registration., https://epermitting.des.sc.gov/, , If you need assistance or have questions please email , infectiouswaste@des.sc.gov, .Info for Infectious Waste Transporters
Transporter Resources, Infectious Waste Transporter Information Brochure (pdf) South Carolina Infectious Waste Transporters (pdf) Forms: Infectious Waste Transporter Registration Infectious Waste Transporter Certificate of Insurance Infectious Waste Manifest Form OSHA - www.scosha.llronline.com/Groundwater Protection Program
Overview, The Groundwater Protection Program is part of the Division of Monitoring, Assessment, and Protection in the, Bureau of Water, . The program is responsible for groundwater monitoring, risk assessment, and protection for wastewater, sludge, manure, and the nutrient management associated with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, No Discharge Land Application (ND) permits, and Agricultural Animal Facility (ND) permits, for the treatment of domestic, industrial, and agricultural waste. This…, serve the citizens of South Carolina best, . , Laws and Regulations, SCDES is mandated by law to proactively maintain the quality of surface and groundwater per the, South Carolina Code of Laws: Pollution Control Act, It is the goal of the Department to maintain or restore groundwater quality in the state of South Carolina so it is suitable as a drinking water source without any treatment as outlined in, R.61-68 Water Classifications and Standards, . All South Carolina groundwater is classified Class GB, effective June 28, 1985 (i.e., less than Maximum Contaminant Levels as set forth in, State Primary Drinking Water Regulations, R.61-58, ) It is, unlawful, for any person, directly or indirectly, to throw, drain, run, allow to seep, or otherwise discharge into the environment any organic or inorganic matter, including sewage, industrial wastes, and other wastes, except as in compliance with a permit issued by the Department. NPDES and ND permits are issued by the Water Pollution Control Division. Facilities to be constructed require both a…, discharges into surface waters, are issued by the, NPDES Program, as outlined in, R.61-9 Water Pollution Control Permits, . Permits, to apply wastewater effluent or sludge to land, are issued by the, Land Application Program, (No Discharge Program) as outlined in, R.61-9 503-505, . Permits for, Land Application of animal manure, are issued by the Agricultural Permitting Program as outlined in, R.61-43 Standards for the Permitting of Agricultural Animal Facilities, . All the permitting regulations listed above include requirements for groundwater monitoring. Proper closure of wastewater treatment facilities is required when facilities are no longer in use. R.61-82 describes procedures which may be required to prevent creating a source of pollution when facilities cease operation. Facilities where pollution is present and closure is necessary, may require…, R.61-71 Well Standards (Section H. Monitoring Wells), . The following form is required for monitoring wells in South Carolina:, Form D-3736 Monitoring Well Application, . All applications are to be submitted via the, ePermitting online portal, ., Land Application and Nutrient Management Plans (NMP), Land Application is the applying of organic waste materials (sludge, wastewater, or manure) to the land surface for the purpose of amending the soil in order to provide nutrients for a planted crop. Land Application is a valuable, yet complex, endeavor requiring strategic planning to prevent potential harm to the environment and public health. Recognizing the technical and economic difficulty in…, preventative approach, in protecting all groundwaters of the state. Approval decisions for land application are based on the site suitability, crop management plan feasibility, and application rate calculations, which together are known as a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP)., Nutrient Management Plan Development Guide for Land Application of Sludge, Wastewater Effluent, and Manure, Facilities adopting low-risk land application practices may be afforded flexibility and economy in monitoring with minimal Departmental oversight. Information requirements will vary, all sites will be assessed by project managers beginning with the submission of the Potential to Impact Groundwater Evaluation:, Groundwater Evaluation Form, Monitoring and Reporting, Facilities which are not fully evaluated or deemed high-risk will require a robust monitoring plan which may include monitoring the groundwater, soils, plant tissue, organic waste material, and surface waters. Monitoring and reporting requirements are stated in permit language and vary in frequency and scope based on identified risks and management practices. All, Groundwater Monitoring Reports, (GMR) due after August 1st, 2021 should be submitted by uploading an Electronic Data Deliverable (EDD) formatted spreadsheet (*.xls) via the ePermitting schedule function. The formatted spreadsheets will be distributed by the GPP on behalf the Wastewater Facilities Permitting Section. If you have not received your EDD GMR Template, email, GMRSubmissions@des.sc.gov, to formally request one. , Form D-0874 Sludge Annual Agronomic Loading Rate Worksheet, Annual reports summarizing application practices, monitoring results, and recommended changes to the NMP will be required. Annual reporting requirements are in the permit language, an example of potential requirements can be found in, section 8 of the guidance document., Contacts, Kelly Whitlock, , Section Manager, , (803) 898-3574, Chris Forrest, , Hydrogeologist,, (803) 898-4252, Dustin Leypoldt, , Hydrogeologist,, (803) 898-4312, Carolyn Moores, , Hydrogeologist,, (803) 898-3799Hazardous Waste
Overview Resource, Conservation, Recovery Act Overview of Hazardous Waste Generator Requirements Pesticide Handling Laws, Regulations Waste Assessment Overview Proper Management of Hand Sanitizer Related Topics Compliance Assistance - Contacts Forms (Hazardous Waste) Report it! Permit CentralSummer Home Checklist: Simple Ways to Protect South Carolina’s Environment
A person’s hand holding a pen and writing on papers spread out on a wooden table. A notebook and a coffee mug sit nearby in a softly lit workspace Summer in South Carolina means more time outdoors, from backyard barbecues and gardening to family gatherings, pool days and weekend projects. While we’re enjoying the season, the choices we make at home can have a big impact on the air, land and water…, Before summer visitors arrive, make sure your system is ready:, Have your septic system inspected regularly and pumped as needed. SCDES recommends inspections every one to two years and pumping every three to five years, depending on your household size and tank needs. Know where your septic tank and drainfield are located. Avoid parking vehicles or placing heavy structures over your drainfield. Spread out water-intensive activities, such as doing multiple…, Help keep your home and community safe:, Do not place loose batteries in household trash or recycling bins. Store unwanted batteries in a safe location until they can be properly recycled. Follow local guidance for battery disposal and recycling options. Proper battery management helps prevent fires, protects workers and keeps harmful materials out of the environment. Keep Chemicals Out of Drains and Waterways Summer often means more…Hydrology Section
Fact Sheet: Getting a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit
What is the purpose of this permit?, When we talk about NPDES permits, we're really talking about a family of permits. One branch is designed to deal with stormwater runoff. A second branch - the subject of this fact sheet - focuses on discharges from city (domestic) and industrial wastewater treatment systems. Essentially, all NPDES permits allow discharges within acceptable limits. The limits are designed to protect streams and…, Who issues this permit?, The S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) administers NPDES permits within South Carolina. SCDES has been authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to manage the NPDES permitting process to satisfy both state and federal laws., What types of businesses need to obtain this permit?, Manufacturing operations, car washes, auto salvage yards, wastewater treatment plants, utility companies, mining operations, petroleum storage facilities, aquaculture operations, and hydrostatic testing operations are just a few of the businesses that need NPDES permits to operate. There are two sub-categories of NPDES permits: General NPDES permit: Each general permit applies to a particular…, How much will it cost to get an NPDES permit?, There is no application fee for an NPDES permit, but SCDES does assess yearly operational fees. A general NPDES permit costs $75-$100 each year. An individual NPDES permit costs from $530 to a couple of thousand dollars yearly, depending on the design flow, the volume of discharge, the number of discharge pipes, and other factors., Where can I get the application form(s) for this permit?, You can download permit application forms from our website . Depending on the characteristics of waste your business will discharge and other factors, you may need to complete more than one form as part of your application packet. To make sure you complete all the necessary forms the first time around, we urge you to speak to a SCDES permitting expert by phone or in person in the earliest stages…, What, if anything, do I need to include with my application form(s)?, Each situation is different. Some applicants will need to submit an engineering report. Some will need to submit an 'alternatives analysis' demonstrating that discharging pollutants into surface water is the only option realistically available (part of an anti-degradation analysis). We strongly urge you to discuss your specific situation with a SCDES permitting expert early in your planning…, What factors will come into play in SCDES's decision about whether to grant my business/facility a permit?, There are so many variables that can affect whether or not SCDES will grant an individual NPDES permit that two similar industries may apply for the same permit but get different outcomes depending on the discharge location. Each applicant for an individual permit must undergo a case-specific review. Factors affecting the timing of the permit process that may come into play include public…, How long will it take to review and approve my application?, This is a tough question to answer without knowing the project details. General NPDES permits take much less time than individual NPDES permits. For general NPDES permits, we usually complete our staff review process within a couple of weeks once we receive the completed paperwork and documentation that allows us to grant coverage to your business under the general permit. Of course, if you fail…, Where do I submit my application?, Mail your application to: SCDES Bureau of Water Water Facilities Permitting Division Columbia, South Carolina 29201, How long is my permit valid?, An NPDES permit is good for 5 years. As for renewals, as long as you file a complete application to renew your permit at least 180 days in advance of the expiration date, state law allows you to continue operations without disruption., What is the appeal process for being turned down for a permit or having my permit revoked?, For information on the permit appeals process, visit our website . Be aware that third parties also have the right to file an appeal and challenge SCDES's permit decision., Who can I contact if I have questions about this permit or the application process?, Mail your application to: Municipal/domestic systems : Call Mike Montebello at (803) 898-4228 or email him at Mike.Montebello@des.sc.gov . Industry systems : Call Crystal Rippy at (803) 898-3964 or email her at Crystal.Rippy@des.sc.gov ., Where does the legal authority for this permit come from?, The authority for NPDES permits stems from federal and state laws. Our state environmental laws are written to be consistent with at least the standards set by federal laws. SCDES's fee structure is authorized by a separate law. Federal Clean Water Act S.C. Pollution Control Act S.C. Environmental Protection Fund Act