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  • Per– and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
  • Department of Defense Facilities
    There are 10 Department of Defense (DoD) Facilities in South Carolina. They are covered by either a RCRA Permit, RCRA Order, or Federal Facilities Agreement.  Charleston Naval Complex Fort Jackson Joint Base Charleston - Air Joint Base Charleston - Weapons Marine Corps Air Station Marine Corps Recruit Depot McEntire National Joint Guard Base Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Poinsett Electronic Combat…, BOW PFAS Strategy Table 14. PFAS Impacts on Drinking Water at South Carolina DoD Facilities, Based on DoW reporting to BLWM as of April 1, 2026 Facility City Known Impact to Off-Base Wells Known Impact to On-Base Wells Charleston Naval Complex Charleston None None; No Wells - Public Supply Fort Jackson Columbia None None; No Wells - Public Supply Joint Base Charleston-Air Charleston None None; No Wells - Public Supply Joint Base Charleston-Weapons Charleston None None; No Wells - Public…, DoD PFAS Websites, Department of Defense Army Navy Air Force For information about or to discuss investigations at Department of Defense Facilities, contact Kent Krieg at Kent.Krieg@des.sc.gov or ( 803) 898-0255 .
  • Cross Connection Control & Backflow Prevention
    The Cross Connection Control/Backflow Prevention program is a state-mandated program designed to protect the public's drinking water from contamination by identifying and eliminating cross connections., Looking to Get Your Backflow Tested/Inspected? Listing of Certified Backflow Testers, The General Inspector provides the service of testing backflow prevention assemblies to the general public. General - Backflow Prevention Equipment Certified Testers - 03/2026, Law, R.44-55-20 (6) and 44-55-40 (6) State Safe Drinking Water Act, Regulation, Cross Connection Control Entire State Primary Drinking Water Regulations - See Section R.61-58.7 (F) Lawn irrigation sprinkler - Policy Letter Vertical Tube Test Procedure No Longer Allowed - Policy Letter, Program, Every public water system must initiate and maintain a viable cross connection control program. This is accomplished by surveying the distribution system for unprotected cross connections. Once identified, these connections can be controlled through the proper use of backflow prevention assemblies. The public water system must maintain accurate records pertaining to the location of existing…, Certification, The Backflow Assembly Tester Certification course is a rigorous four-day* course that meets SCDES standards for certification in backflow assembly prevention testing. Time is spent in the classroom and Wet Lab environments with experienced instructors. This course will educate students on how backflow may occur and how cross-connections should be protected or eliminated using approved assemblies…, *Reciprocation:,  SCDES must be the certifying agency for all testers in SC. Currently, there is not a direct reciprocation with any training providers. Current Testers requesting reciprocation after completion of an approved training class will be required to attend and pass a SCDES sponsored one-day event with a written & practical exam. This ensures access to state specific regulations, laws and practices…, Recertification, A certified backflow prevention tester's license will expire every three years. In order to become re-certified, the tester will be required to take a 25-question, written exam and test a double check valve assembly, pressure vacuum breaker, and a reduced pressure principle assembly in the wet lab. The tester's differential gauge must be accurate to within 2% of full gauge scale or +/- 0.3 psi…, Upcoming Workshops, To join our waiting list, please fill out the electronic form in the link below. If an opening becomes available, you will be notified by email, and/or phone call. You will receive a link to register for the available class. Cross Connection Control/Backflow Prevention Waiting List, Tester Certification Classes, Location Address Date Class Type Class Availability Registration Form Conway, SC GSWSA, 170 Jackson Bluff Rd Conway, SC 29526 March 17-20, 2026 Tester Certification, FULL, FULL, Rock Hill, SC (UF TREEO Class) Manchester Meadows: 337 E Mt Gallant Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730 April 13-17, 2026 Tester Certification, FULL, FULL, Seneca, SC (PAI Class) Gignilliat Community Center, 621 N. Townville St, Seneca, SC 29678 April 28-May 1, 2026 Tester Certification, FULL, FULL, Columbia, SC Civil Air Patrol, 3901 CAP Wing Drive, West Columbia, SC 29710 May 12-15, 2026 Tester Certification, FULL, FULL, Charleston, SC (PAI Class) N. Charleston Convention Center, 5000 Coliseum Dr, North Charleston, SC 29418 June 9-12, 2026 Tester Certification, FULL, FULL, Columbia, SC Civil Air Patrol, 3901 CAP Wing Drive, West Columbia, SC 29710 July 28-31, 2026 Tester Certification OPEN Tester Certification Registration - Columbia July 2026 Columbia, SC Civil Air Patrol, 3901 CAP Wing Drive, West Columbia, SC 29710 August 11-14, 2026 Tester Certification OPEN Tester Certification Registration - Columbia Aug 2026 Seneca, SC (PAI Class) Gignilliat Community Center…, Other Training Opportunities, Location Address Date Class Type Class Availability Registration Form Newberry, SC Newberry Firehouse Conference Center (3rd Floor), 1227 McKibben St, Newberry, SC 29108 July 8, 2026 Administration Class OPEN Admin Control Program Certification - Newberry, Contact, Steve Fox, Cross Connection Control & Backflow Prevention:  (803) 898-4426 ,  Steve.Fox@des.sc.gov
  • Watersheds Program
    The SCDES Watersheds Program supports the goals of the Clean Water Act in the state’s eight major river basins: Savannah, Saluda, Edisto, Salkehatchie, Broad, Catawba, Santee, and Pee Dee. Through a non-regulatory approach, the program serves as a resource to stakeholders, providing technical support, water quality information, and grant programs.
  • Nonpoint Source Program
  • Watershed Planning
  • Regulations Currently Under Amendment
    The following SCDES regulations are currently under amendment. Within in this section, the Department will post stakeholder engagement opportunities, public hearing dates*, links to South Carolina State Register notices, and other information relevant to the amendment of the regulation. , Links to non-SCDES organizations found on this site are provided solely as a service to our users.  SCDES is not responsible for its content. While SCDES has made every effort to maintain the accuracy of the content presented in this Regulation Development Update, it reserves the right to correct errors when discovered., Regulations Currently Under Amendment, State Register Notices, Key Information & Dates, Administration
  • Champions of the Environment
    The 2025-2026 grant application period is closed, winners Grants up to $2,500 are available for your school's environmental education project! Hey, K-12 teachers! Your students could be named Champions of the Environment for helping protect the natural world and boost environmental awareness. Be a Champion and do your part for the environment!
  • Nationwide Permits for Minor Projects
    Nationwide Permits for Minor Projects , Nationwide permits (NWPs) are general permits issued by the Corps of Engineers on a nationwide basis to authorize minor activities with little delay or paperwork. These NWPs are issued for a category of activities when those activities are similar in nature. The NWPs help protect the aquatic environment and the public interest by providing incentives to reduce impacts on jurisdictional waters and…, 2026 Nationwide Permits Reissuance, On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issued a, proposed rule, in the Federal Register that announced the reissuance of 56 existing NWPs and the proposal to issue one new NWP. One NWP is not proposed for reissuance.  On January 8, 2026, the Corps published a, final rule, in the Federal Register. In that notice, the Charleston District denied the Section 401 Water Quality Certification (401 Certification) for NWPs 12, 14, 23, 29, 39, 44, 46, 57 and 58 as well as the Coastal Zone Consistency (CZC) for NWPs 14, 29, 39, 42, and 51.  On March 24, 2026, the Department issued a, Department Decision, for a General State Certification to address the denied NWP. The General State Certification will streamline the certification process for projects that meet the general and special conditions outlined in the certification below.  •   , SCDES’s General State Certification for Nationwide Permits, •    , Water Quality Certification Status List,   •   , Instructions for initiating the 401 Certification process
  • Enforcement and Violations: Public Swimming Pools/Spas
    Permitted Activities - Failure to get a Construction Permit prior to beginning construction of a public swimming pool/spa will result in a violation. Failure to get Operational Approval (including a piping inspection before completion of construction) prior to beginning operation of a public swimming pool/spa will result in a violation. Failure to get a Change Order Permit prior to making any…, Contact, Local SCDES Regional Offices Kyndall Wallace , Drinking Water & Recreational Waters Protection Division, (803) 898-4255