Bureau of Water Permitting Information - Quarries
Quarries - Water Permitting, Regulatory Authority Overview, The S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) Bureau of Water (BOW) regulatory authority stems from the Federal Clean Water Act , the South Carolina Pollution Control Act , and the South Carolina Stormwater and Sediment Reduction Act as well as the regulations developed under the authority of these acts, such as Regulation 61-9 Water Pollution Control Permits , Regulation 72-300 Standards…, What quarry operations are subject to review?, Discharges of stormwater occurring during construction or during operation; and Discharges of wastewater during operation of a mine such as mine dewatering water, mine process wastewater and mine equipment wash water., What types of water permits do quarries need?, SCDES issues National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits addressing construction and operational phases. These NPDES permits are both existing general permits that apply to similar operations statewide. The applicant applies for coverage under these existing permits - a registration of sorts. One or both of these permits may be required. CONSTRUCTION: A NPDES permit that…, What is the permitting review process?, SUBMITTAL PROCESS: The facility submits the applicable Notice of Intent (NOI) form for coverage under each general permit. (Under certain circumstances, it may only be necessary to obtain coverage under SCG730000. Please contact the Department with questions regarding permit applicability.) REVIEW PROCESS: DHEC determines if the activity is allowed under the terms of the two general NPDES…, How does the public provide input/comments?, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: With each of these general permits, DHEC had a public comment period when the permits were issued. APPEAL PROCESS: See SCDES's Guide to Board Review. How is compliance with the permit evaluated? The Permittee has certain monitoring/reporting requirements as well as the responsibility to implement a pollution prevention plan (e.g., having silt fences and other best…Dams & Reservoirs - Safety Newsletters
Please find below an archive of the Dam Safety Program's annual newsletter to dam owners. These newsletters cover a range of topics from suggested maintenance items, changes in the dam safety program, contacts for your closest regional dam safety engineer, and much more. August 2017 Dams Newsletter May 2018 Dams Newsletter June 2019 Dams Newsletter June 2020 Dams Newsletter May 2021 Dams…Emergency Action Plans for Dams
An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a formal document used to assist dam owners in identifying unusual or emergency conditions at their dam and providing a plan of action should an emergency situation arise. A current EAP is required for all high and significant hazard dams, however any dam owner can benefit from having one. The document prescribes specific actions to reduce the potential for…, Federal Guidelines for, Dam Safety-Emergency Action Planning for Dams , (FEMA 64 ) for additional guidance. Dam owners may provide revisions as they are completed or as part of a full submittal. Signatures may only be submitted as part of a full submittal or after all other proposed revisions have been submitted. The Program will review proposed revisions and provide comments as needed. Once all requirements are met, the Program will sign a final version of the EAP…, The EAP is not considered official until the Program has approved it. , The Program will then ensure the plan can be accessed by county emergency management officials, but dam owners are responsible for distributing the approved plan to other parties, if necessary. Dam owners are responsible for updating their EAPs to keep them current. EAP updates can be submitted to the Program at any time for review. The Program will not verify downstream hazard contact…Preparing & Responding to Events at Your Dam
If a dam is failing or failure is imminent, your first call should be to 911., Tropical weather events have caused many South Carolina dams to fail in recent years. Hurricanes and tropical storms can create intense rainfall and strong winds, which can lead to dam damage or failure. Heavy rains can overwhelm a dam's storage ability and lead to dam overtopping, erosion, and failure. Strong winds can topple trees, which can create voids or embankment losses. These can provide …, Preparation, When a significant rainfall event or a storm that can generate high winds is imminent, dam owners should: Evaluate the current water level behind the dam and determine if the water level needs to be safely lowered to provide extra capacity for incoming flows Coordinate any water release with other dam owners and/or property owners downstream that could be impacted If it is safe to do so,…, Controlling Water Level, The best way to protect your dam from failure is to have additional storage capacity available to handle storm rainfall and to have an effective way to lower water in the reservoir. This prevents the dam from overtopping, which can rapidly lead to dam failure and the entire reservoir being released. Please ensure spillways are functioning and clear of debris before the storm arrives to ensure…, immediately, . As a short-term measure, you may be able to install temporary siphons to provide additional drainage capacity. These may assist as a stopgap in preparation for tropical weather and other large rainfall events and in response to an emergency at your dam but should not be relied on for long-term water control. Additional details about temporary siphons and preparing for storms can be found in our…, Carefully Assess Your Dam, Once the storm event has passed and it is safe to do so, please conduct a brief visual inspection of your dam. If the storm has caused damage to the structure, you should take steps to address the damage as soon as possible. Some maintenance activities can be conducted without a department-issued permit but for more significant repairs, a permit may be required. If you have detected a potential…, Debris-clogged spillways, . Remove accumulated debris if it is safe and feasible to do so. debris image, Major Erosion, . This may impact the dam's integrity and may need to be repaired under a permit. Please contact the program for assistance Water image , Large slumps or slides , Check for new or larger slumps or slides in the earthen dam and contact the program immediately if observed. These can impact the integrity of the dam. Landslide image Landslide image 2, If dam failure appears imminent, implement your Emergency Action Plan immediately. If you do not have a plan, call 911 and , County Emergency Management Contacts, You may report any concerns or damage to SCDES Dam Safety Program staff at any time at our 24hr technical assistance line at, 803-898-1939Tax Credits
Section 12-6-3370 of the 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws provides for a state tax credit for the construction, installation or restoration of water impoundments and water control structures used for certain purposes. That Section of the 1976 Code is printed here: Section 12-6-3370. Tax credits for construction, installation or restoration of water impoundments and water control structures. A…Dams and Reservoirs Definitions
Alteration, - any change to a dam or reservoir which affects the physical parameters and safety of the dam or reservoir which may include but is not limited to changing the height of a dam, increasing the normal pool or principal spillway elevation or changing the elevation or physical dimensions of an emergency spillway., Appurtenant works, - include but are not limited to such structures as spillways, either in the dam or separate therefrom, low level outlet works and water conduits., Board, - the Board of Health and Environmental Control., Classification inspection, - visual examination of an existing dam or proposed dam site to determine the physical dimensions of the dam and reservoir and the hazard potential of the structure, irrespective of the structural safety of the dam itself., Dam, - any artificial barrier, together with appurtenant works, including but not limited to dams, levees, dikes or floodwalls for the impoundment or diversion of water or other fluids where failure may cause danger to life or property., Department, - the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services or its staff or agents., Detailed inspection, - all studies, investigations and analyses necessary to evaluate conclusively the structural safety and hydraulic capacity of a dam or reservoir and appurtenant works. This inspection may include but is not limited to soil analysis, concrete or earth stability analysis, materials testing, foundation explorations, hydrologic analysis, including basin studies and flood potential. This inspection…, Engineer, - a registered professional engineer licensed to practice in the State or an individual employed by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service with the title of engineer who is qualified and authorized to sign documents prepared and submitted by USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service., Hazard Potential, - the potential for causing property damage or loss of human life in the event of failure or improper operation of a dam or reservoir., Height, of a dam is measured in feet from the top of the dam to the natural bed of the stream or water course at the downstream toe of the barrier; if the barrier is not across a stream or water course, height is measured from the top of the dam to the lowest elevation of the outside limit of the barrier., Operate, a dam or reservoir - to perform functions intended to preserve or protect the dam or reservoir (or the area potentially impacted by the dam or reservoir). Examples of operator functions include removal or replacement of flashboards, opening or closing of gates, removal of accumulated trash at the spillway, and maintenance functions such as mowing grass on the dam, etc, Order, - a written document prepared and issued by the Department which mandates specific actions to be accomplished by a dam owner within a specified time frame., Owner, - those who own, control, operate, maintain, manage or propose to construct a dam or reservoir. In cases where a dam has been abandoned by its owner (either intentionally or unintentionally), and it is necessary to reestablish ownership, the Department shall look first to those entities who hold title to the property on which the dam is constructed and those entities who have acquired some legal…, Preliminary inspection, - a visual but technical evaluation of the structural integrity and physical stability of a dam and may include an analysis of the dam's ability to pass flood waters. The term preliminary inspection - also the recurring routine reinspections that the Department may schedule for certain dams., Probable Maximum Flood, (PMF) - the largest flood that theoretically could occur at a given site during our present geological and climatic era. The initiating event in a PMF determination is the PMP., Probable Maximum Precipitation, (PMP) - the theoretically greatest-depth of precipitation for a given duration that is physically possible over a given area at a given time of year; these projected maximum precipitation numbers are arrived at by the National Weather Service by studying actual storm events that have occurred in similar climatic areas. Information on PMP is available in publications from the National Weather…, Removal, - the destruction or breaching of a dam or reservoir to the extent that no water or fluid can be impounded by the dam or reservoir., Repairs, - any work done on a dam which may affect the safety of the dam. This includes but is not limited to work requiring excavation into the embankment fill or foundation of a dam or work requiring removal or replacement of major structural components of a dam., Reservoir, - an area which contains or will contain the water or fluid impounded by a dam., Storage capacity, or, impoundment storage, of a reservoir is defined to be the volume of water (normally measured in acre-feet) contained in the impoundment at maximum storage elevation (i.e., when water is at the top of the dam.)Dams and Reservoirs - Permitting Process
Permit Requirements, The requirement to obtain a permit applies to construction of new dams that meet the size to be regulated, as well as to alterations , repairs , and removals of existing dams that are regulated. Any new dam or repair, alteration, or removal of an existing dam that is 25 feet or more in height and/or impounds 50 acre-feet must be permitted before any work may begin unless the dam is exempt from…, New Dams, The process to follow in obtaining a permit is covered in the Dams and Reservoirs Safety Act Regulations, R72-1. An outline of that process is given here. After submittal of a complete application package, the first step taken by the Department in the permitting process is determination of the hazard potential classification that will be assigned to the proposed dam. As covered in the Regulations…, Existing Dams, The process for alterations, repairs, and removal of existing dams is essentially the same as given above for new dams.Submittal Package and Where to Apply
Dams and Reservoirs Safety Program Submittal Package and Where to Apply Submittal Package complete submittal package for a new dam consists of the following: a completed permit application; a site location map; plans and specifications;* a design report which includes calculations prepared by an engineer licensed to practice professional engineering in the state of South Carolina.* and for a…, Where to Apply, A complete submittal package should be submitted to the : Dam Safety Program Bureau of Water SCDES 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 Telephone # (803) 898-4300Denmark Drinking Water History
* Updated February 11, 2020, Completed in 2019: Quarterly Oversight Sampling. January Sampling April Sampling August Sampling In the first week of April, EPA/Atlanta performed an Oversight Sampling at business and residential locations. Letters from EPA Sampling Report from EPA DHEC's Oversight Sampling Data DHEC/EPA Data Tables EPA/Atlanta conducted a follow-up Sanitary Survey with DHEC on April 2, 2019. In…, Ongoing, Work collaboratively with Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation (CU DPR) to ensure coordination of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requirements for public and private drinking water systems. DHEC continues to perform annual sanitary surveys of Denmark's water system. DHEC performs sanitary surveys to evaluate a public…, History, In October 2019, DHEC formally adopted a Strategy for the Integration of FIFRA Compliance for Water Disinfectants into DHEC's Bureau of Water permitting programs. In September 2019, DHEC received the results of EPA's Priority Review of DHEC's Public Water System Supervision Program. In August 2019, DHEC received a letter from the City of Denmark providing updates in compliance with the Consent…, Contact Us, Join SCDES's Denmark Water contact list to stay informed. Any citizen who would like to share concerns about water quality and/or request sampling in his/her home is asked to contact our DHEC Regional Office in Orangeburg., SCDES Orangeburg Regional Office , 1550 Carolina Ave. Orangeburg, SC 29116 (803) 533-5490, This webpage will continue to be updated with new information as it becomes available.Denmark Water Monitoring Data
*Updated February 11, 2022, The graphic below is an illustration of the typical components of a public drinking water system that uses groundwater. An illustration of the typical components of a public drinking water system that uses groundwater., SCDES monitors the City’s drinking water quality in several different ways:, Compliance sampling required under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Oversight sampling to provide additional data Investigative sampling as requested Special studies , SCDES performs a sanitary survey of the City’s drinking water system on an annual basis., The purpose of a sanitary survey is to evaluate a public water system's ability to provide a continuous supply of safe drinking water to its customers., Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR), The City uses SCDES compliance data to develop their Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) which is required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. The CCR tells where drinking water comes from and lists the regulated contaminants detected in treated water and the level at which they were found for the preceding calendar year. The City of Denmark Public Water System is required to publish notice of its CCR…, Water Quality Monitoring, The results for Denmark's compliance and supplemental oversight sampling can be found on SCDES's, Drinking Water Watch page, . The accumulated water quality data for the City through 2018 are summarized in this, table, . The Safe Drinking Water Act violations for the City through 2018 are summarized in this, table, . Iron and Manganese Data for the City from 2007 - January 2019 are summarized in this, table, ., Special Study: School Water Sampling, DHEC coordinated with the Bamberg District Two school district to conduct water sampling for lead levels as requested at the community meeting which DHEC hosted on April 5, 2018. DHEC staff collected samples at Denmark-Olar Elementary School on April 12, 2018, and Denmark-Olar Middle School on April 19, 2018. , All results from both schools were less than the EPA’s lead action level of 0.015 milligrams per liter (mg/L). , View the results here: , School Sampling Data - April 2018, (PDF)., Special Study: Partnership Well Sampling, In response to concerns expressed by some customers during a DHEC community meeting on April 5, 2018, the Department agreed to work collaboratively with statewide partners to perform a special sampling study of the water quality of the four public wells serving the City. The University of South Carolina (UofSC) Arnold School of Public Health, USC Department of Chemistry and the Edisto Riverkeeper…, Findings of the DHEC study were that:, pH was within EPA guidelines, close to neutral and less likely to be corrosive. Lead was not detected in any of the four wells. There were no elevated detection limits. Bacteria data and chlorine residuals data indicated that water disinfection was effective. Iron and manganese in the raw and treated water were less than the EPA drinking water standards., All three partners sampled together and had similar results., All results complied with EPA safe drinking water standards., Partnership Well Sampling Reports:, SCDES Sampling Report, - (PDF), Edisto Riverkeeper’s Report, University of South Carolina's Report, , Contact Us, Join SCDES's, Denmark Water contact list, to stay informed. Any citizen who would like to share concerns about water quality and/or request sampling in his/her home is asked to contact our SCDES Regional Office in Orangeburg., SCDES Orangeburg Regional Office, 1550 Carolina Ave. Orangeburg, SC 29116, (803) 533-5490, This webpage will continue to be updated with new information as it's available.