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  • How SCDES Measures Surface Water Quality
    Water quality monitoring data helps us understand why certain conditions exist in a body of water and how that water's quality may be improved. SCDES monitors surface waters to:  Characterize water quality at monitoring locations (, Watershed Atlas, ) See if they are meeting water quality standards (, R.61-68, ) Identify locations in need of extra attention (, 303(d) List, ) Determine long-term water quality trends Provide background data for permitting, modeling, planning, and evaluating stream classifications (, R.61-69, ) and standards (, R.61-68, ) Help formulate permit limits for wastewater discharges with the goal of maintaining State and Federal water quality standards and criteria in the receiving streams in accordance with the goals of the Federal, Clean Water Act, and, SC Pollution Control Act, ., Ambient Surface Water Monitoring, What Do We Measure and Why is it important? , State of South Carolina Monitoring Strategy, Ambient Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program QAPP, State of South Carolina Annual Monitoring Workplan 2026, SCDES ambient surface water monitoring parameters, Why are these parameters important? , “Ambient” refers to immediate surroundings, especially pertaining to the environment around something but undisturbed or unaffected by it, as in ambient water quality.  The Ambient Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program coordinates a network of monitoring stations located across the State of South Carolina. In addition to physical parameters measured at each station, surface water samples are…, 305(b) Reports, ).   Separate statistical survey monitoring schemes have been developed for streams and rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and estuarine resources to represent the entirety of each resource type. Each year a new set of approximately 30 statistical survey sites is selected for each waterbody type.   For further information regarding Ambient Surface Water Quality Monitoring see the, State of South Carolina Monitoring Strategy, , or water quality monitoring data, contact, David Chestnut, at (803) 898-4066., Accessing SCDES Water Quality Data from the Water Quality Portal (WQP), The, Water Quality Portal, (WQP) is a cooperative service sponsored by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC).  The STORET Warehouse was decommissioned on June 29, 2018.  WQX, the mechanism for publishing monitoring data, has remained unchanged and data continue to be available through the, Water Quality Portal, . SCDES's Organization Code for Ambient Surface Water Quality Physical and Chemical Monitoring data is 21SC60WQ_WQX. Water quality monitoring data can be selected for individual water quality monitoring sites, for all monitoring sites within a unique 8, 10, or 12-digit hydrologic (watershed) unit code (HUC), or all monitoring sites within entire counties. The first step in the process is to…, Watershed Atlas, .  Using the unique 8, 10, or 12-digit HUC is an easy way to retrieve all of the physical and chemical water quality monitoring data within an entire watershed. Found in Nat’l Watershed Boundaries in the, Watershed Atlas, . Just click on the watershed of interest and copy the 8, 10, or 12-digit HUC from the pop-up box. In general leaving Sample Media, Characteristic Group, Characteristics, and Project ID set to “All“ is the easiest way to retrieve all of the data. It is relatively easy to edit the resulting Excel file if you are only interested in specific parameters and is the most reliable way to be sure you get…, Water Quality Portal User Guide, . , Regulatory Data and Quality Assurance Requirements, SCDES has developed a guidance document to help outside entities understand and meet the appropriate data quality requirements submitting water quality data to SCDES for use in regulatory decisions., Regulatory Data and Quality Assurance Requirements, The South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program (SCECAP), The South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program (SCECAP) is a collaborative coastal monitoring program between South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). The goal of SCECAP is to monitor the condition of the state’s estuarine habitats and associated biological resources on an annual basis. This program…, SCECAP, website or contact, David Chestnut, at (803) 898-4066.
  • Savannah River Site - RCRA Federal Facilities
    The RCRA Federal Facilities Section in the Division of Waste Management provides oversight to SRS to ensure compliance with requirements for management of Hazardous and Mixed Waste (hazardous and low-level mixed waste) and cleanup of past waste management activities. This includes meeting requirements under the South Carolina Hazardous Waste Management Regulations and the Federal Resource…, RCRA, ), as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments.  The RCRA Permit outlines the post-closure care and operation of hazardous and mixed waste management facilities and identification of corrective action for solid waste management units (SWMUs) and Areas of Concern (AOCs). , Post-closure Care Facilities , The RCRA Permit identifies closed hazardous waste management units that either have or may impact surrounding soil or groundwater. The Post-closure Care modules present permit conditions which address the requirements for post-closure care.  The Groundwater Requirements modules define requirements for monitoring and corrective action program for the post-closure units. There are 5 post-closure…, M-Area Hazardous Waste Management Facility (HWMF), consists of an unlined settling basin (surface impoundment), overflow ditch, seep area, and a Carolina Bay (Lost Lake). The M-Area HWMF was closed in accordance with the approved closure plan by April 26, 1991.  The, Metallurgical Laboratory HWMF, consists of a closed, unlined settling basin (surface impoundment), the process sewer line leading to the basin, a drainage outfall to an adjacent Carolina Bay, and the Carolina Bay itself.  The settling basin was closed in accordance with the approved closure plan in 1992. The Carolina Bay was also closed and required no further action.  The, F-Area HWMF, consists of three closed surface impoundments (seepage basins).  The F-Area Seepage Basins were closed in accordance with an approved closure plan by February of 1991. The F-Area Inactive Process Sewer Line (FIPSL) will be closed concurrent with the closure of the F-Area in order to avoid impacting the safe operation of the F-Area Basin.  The, H-Area HWMF, consists of three closed surface impoundments (seepage basins) and the H-Area inactive process sewer line (HIPSL).  The H-Area Seepage Basins were closed in accordance with an approved closure plan by July of 1991. The H-Area Inactive Process Sewer Line (HIPSL) was closed in accordance with the approved closure plan in 2007.  The, Mixed Waste Management Facility (MWMF), is an area of landfill units within the greater Burial Ground Complex (BGC) which consists of 58 acres of initial MWMF trenches. The 13 acres of the Solvent Rag Portions of the Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility (LLRWDF) is included as part of the MWMF post-closure.  The MWMF was closed in accordance with the approved closure plan in 1990 and verified closed in April 1991.  The, Sanitary Landfill, Hazardous Waste Management Facility consists of two areas that received solid wastes generated from SRS office, cafeteria, and industrial activities from 1987 to 1994.  The Sanitary Landfill was certified closed October 26, 1997. , Container Storage , The, Container, modules in the RCRA Permit identify storage facilities that may be used to store, process, and/or treat hazardous, non-hazardous, mixed, non-hazardous radioactive, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Transuranic (TRU), mixed TRU, and radioactive TRU wastes. There are 2 permitted container storage areas:  The Mixed Waste Storage Buildings (MWSBs) are located within the Solid Waste Management…, Tank Storage , The, Solvent Storage Tanks (SST), Facility is located near H-Area and was used to store mixed waste solvent and nonhazardous radioactive waste solvent until it was treated or disposed of. These tanks are no longer operating and are undergoing closure. , Corrective Action  , The, SWMUs and AOCs, are listed in the RCRA permit once a remedy is selected and approved under the, SRS Federal Facility Agreement, . , Proposed SRPPF Facility  , A RCRA Permit Application has been received for storage of hazardous and mixed waste at the proposed Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) to be located in the F-Area of SRS.  The Permit Application was submitted on January 30, 2026, along with the Location Standards Compliance Demonstration required for new hazardous waste facilities. This submittal incorporates new information…, Public Notices, Public notice of draft permits may be viewed on our Public Notices page. 
  • Fish Consumption Advisories
  • Harmful Algal Blooms
    SCDES's statewide monitoring stations, as well as current advisories and watches, and other information can viewed on our GIS app., Beach Access Guide Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring App
  • Water Data & Tools
    Coastal Plain Well Inventory Conditional Shellfish Harvest Closures Fish Consumption Advisories Groundwater Data Harmful Algal Blooms Lead Testing for School or Day Care Drinking Water PFAS SC Adopt-a-Stream Hydrogeologic Framework State Regulated Dams Stormwater Notice of Intent Watershed Atlas 
  • SCDES Issues Harmful Algal Bloom Recreational Watch for Areas of Lake Hartwell
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  May 29, 2026  COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) today issued a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Recreational Watch for portions of Lake Hartwell.   On May 27, SCDES Aquatic Science staff conducted a survey of Lake Hartwell including the Coneross Creek lake arm following multiple reports of an algal bloom. Field teams collected water…, Photos show areas of Lake Hartwell where a cyanobacteria harmful algal bloom (HAB) has been observed in May 2026. The bloom has appeared as bright green and blue-green discoloration on the water's surface, resembling spilled paint or streaky patches. SCDES has issued a Recreational Watch for affected areas and continues to monitor conditions throughout the lake., SCDES’s Algal Bloom Monitoring Map is actively updated with current Recreational Watch areas (yellow areas and yellow points on the map). These Recreational Watch areas are locations where the agency has confirmed the presence of the algal bloom based on field surveying or sample collection. To provide a more comprehensive view of the lake, the map also includes reported algal bloom sightings…, SCDES recommends:,  , surveying the area before swimming or recreating,  , avoiding direct contact with lake water in areas where the HAB is observed,  , keeping pets and animals from swimming in or drinking from the lake in areas where the HAB is observed,   HABs can cause health impacts to people or pets that come into contact with the algae. The most common symptoms associated with HABs are stomach pain, skin rash, headache, coughing and watery eyes. If a pet displays symptoms after coming into contact with a HAB, please consult with your veterinarian.  SCDES will continue to monitor the HAB on Lake Hartwell in order to provide the latest…
  • 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 …
  • Regulations & Regulatory Updates
  • UST Testing Companies, Contractors & Recyclers Lists
    Testing Companies, Cathodic Protection Testing Vendors List  SIR Vendors List   Underground Storage Tank Testing Vendors List , Recyclers, Tank Sludge Recyclers    
  • Ambient Air Monitoring Network
    Ambient Air Monitoring Network, SCDES operates air monitoring stations throughout South Carolina to measure the concentrations of pollutants in outdoor (ambient) air that are considered harmful to public health and the environment. The EPA sets national ambient air standards for each type of pollutant and sets minimum requirements for both the number and distribution of monitors among metropolitan statistical areas. The EPA…, Contact, SCDES Air Regulations & Data Analysis Section , Sophie Grimsley ,, Air Regulations & Data Analysis Manager