Private Drinking Water Wells
South Carolina's Individual Residential Well and Irrigation Well Permitting Regulation (R.61-44) provides the legal authority and mandate for DHEC to issue permits for these wells. All wells shall be drilled, constructed, and abandoned by a South Carolina certified well driller per S.C. Code Section 40-23-10 et seq (to find well drillers or verify driller certifications, please visit SCGWA and…, Definitions, Individual Residential Wells, – Intended to produce water for human consumption at a, single residence., Irrigation Wells, – Intended to produce water for use other than human consumption (lawn and landscape watering, agricultural use, livestock, etc.)., Notice of Intent Process, Step One:, Prior to construction of any individual residential well or irrigation well, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to obtain coverage under the General Permit is submitted by the well owner, agent of the well owner, or well driller. A fee of $70.00 for each individual residential well and a fee of $50.00 for each irrigation well should accompany the NOI for it to be considered a complete application. Upon…, Step Two:, The well driller notifies SCDES 48 hours prior to installation of the exact date, time, and location of the proposed well. Local SCDES inspectors may schedule inspections to determine compliance with the Well Standards, R.61-71 . This 48-hour period may run concurrent with Step One. That is, the 48 hours can begin when the NOI is received by SCDES ., Other Permits, R.61-44 and R.61-71 applies only to individual residential wells and irrigation wells. Any well that will serve potable water to multiple households or a small business is considered a public water supply well and will need to follow the Water Supply permitting procedures . Any well or system of wells that will be withdrawing more than 3 million gallons in any given month must also obtain a…, Greg Withycombe, , (864)-359-3737 Josh Zodarecky , (803)-898-3232Drilling, Maintaining Your Well
Annual Reports, Private Wells Program Annual Report 2018-2019 Private Wells Program Annual Report 2019-2020, Laws & Regulations, General Permit R.61-44, Individual Residential Well and Irrigation Well Permitting Regulation R.61-71, Well Standards, Well Construction, Be Well Aware (PDF 178KB) The Facts on Drilling Your Own Well (PDF 831KB) Individual Water Supply Wells (PDF 344 KB) Information on Wells Going Dry, Well Water Quality, Common Water Quality Problems & Their Treatment (PDF 919KB) Facts about Radium (PDF 578 KB) Residential Well Disinfection (PDF 917KB)Well Permitting for Public Water Supplies
Groundwater treatment systems are broken into two categories. They are the construction of new wells and the modification of existing wells. Construction for either of these two categories will require a construction permit before the work is started and a permit to operate before being used. To receive a construction permit, it is required that the plans, specifications and design calculations…, New Wells: Two-Step, The two-step method, which is more common and generally easier, requires that a test well permit be issued first. This allows the applicant to drill the proposed test well and install the minimum material (i.e. well casing, well screen, measuring device and temporary pump) needed for well testing. The test well submittal package must include at least four (4) copies of the site plan layout, three…, New Wells: One-Step, The second method for permitting a drinking water well is as a one-step permit. This type of permit combines both the test well and production well into one. For this to be done all the material for both the test well and production (see two-step above for submittal package contents) well, along with sufficient background data from local wells, must be submitted to SCDES for review and approval.…, Modifications to Existing Well Systems, All projects involved with making any modifications (e.g. chemical feed, filter system, storage tank, etc.) to an existing well system will be required to obtain a construction permit prior to the actual construction. The proper project material must be submitted to SCDES for review and approval before a construction permit may be issued. The material package must consist of four (4) copies of…, Contact, Richard Welch, Jr. P.E., Manager, Drinking Water & Recreational Waters Compliance, (803) 898-3546Residential Wells - Forms
Form Name DHEC Form # ePermitting Notice of Intent - Well location information submitted prior to installation of an individual residential well or irrigation well D-3647 Apply Online Water Well Record Form - Well construction information submitted by well driller after well is completed or abandoned D-1903 Apply Online SCDES has developed training to help private well users with navigating the…Residential Wells - Need Assistance or Technical Support?
The Private Well Program can provide technical support concerning well construction and well remediation. Should a situation arise during installation or completion of a well that has not been encountered, either the drillers or inspectors can describe the situation and solutions will be researched. If compliance with the construction regulations is not possible, staff can issue a variance as…Oil & Natural Gas and Terminal Facility Registration
SCDES's Solid Waste Groundwater Section is responsible for implementing the S.C. Oil and Gas Exploration, Drilling, and Production regulation R.121-8. The purpose of the regulation is to: Prevent the waste of oil and gas Protect correlative rights Prevent pollution of the water, air, and land by oil and gas exploration or production activities. Oil and Natural Gas Laws & Regulations Terminal…Compliance and Enforcement
Compliance Reviews, The Compliance Group is charged with upholding the requirements in the Solid Waste Policy and Management Act, which states that at least once every five years, the Department shall review the environmental compliance history of each permitted facility. This consists of a thorough file review, a facility inspection, addressing any outstanding issues that are compliance related and addressing any…Composting and Wood Grinding - Registration
Application for Permit to Compost or Produce Mulch Regulation 61-107.4, Solid Waste Management: Compost and Mulch Production from Land-clearing Debris, Yard Trimmings, and Organic ResidualsConsolidated Solid Waste Landfill Regulation
Regulation 61-107.19 Solid Waste Management: Solid Waste Landfills and Structural Fill became effective on May 23, 2008, . The regulation addresses all solid waste landfills and structural fill activity in the State and repeals four existing regulations (R. 61-107.11, R. 61-107.13, R. 61-107.16, and R. 61-107.258) governing these landfills. The new regulation improves solid waste management in four key ways: Directs disposal based on characteristics of waste instead of source of generation; Provides better…, Landfill Classifications Changes, Old Classification New Classification * Land-clearing Debris Landfill Class 1 Landfill * Construction and Demolition Landfill * Industrial Solid Waste Class I Landfill Class 2 Landfill * Municipal Solid Waste Landfill * Industrial Solid Waste Class II Landfill * Industrial Solid Waste Class III Landfill Class 3 Landfill , Structural Fills, Under the regulation, structural fill activities that use a limited, inert waste stream consisting of hardened concrete (may include rebar), clean hardened asphalt, bricks or masonry blocks, and/or land-clearing debris must be registered by the Department. For more information on structural fill requirements, see Structural Fills . View Regulation 61-107.19 (pdf), Class 1 Landfill, Regulation 61-107.19 Part III contains the requirements for Class 1 Landfills. This section of the regulation addresses the general permit, general provision that are specific to Claas 1 landfills, notice of intent procedures, and record keeping and reporting requirements., Key Points on Class 1 Landfills, Operates under a general permit for disposal of land-clearing debris Requires publication of a Notice of Intent in local paper and notification to the Department before operations can begin Limits fill of low area to grade Allows permitted mining sites to become acceptable locations for a Class 1 Landfill Requires the retention of landfill records for three years Buffer Requirements Property line…, Note:, Existing landfills are exempt from these buffer requirements., Guidance Documents:, Class 1 Landfill Operating Criteria (pdf) Extract of SCDHEC Letter to Class One Landfills (pdf), , Class 2 Landfill, Regulation 61-107.19 Part IV establishes criteria for Class 2 Landfills. These landfills may accept solid wastes for disposal that are listed in Appendix I of the regulation; solid wastes that are not on the Appendix I list but have similar properties and are approved by the Department for the facility; and/or solid wastes that test, through waste characterization, at less than ten (10) times the…, Key Points on Class 2 Landfills, Limits waste streams to Appendix I items without waste characterization Waste that is characterized as less than 10 times the MCL and approved by the Department may be added to the permit for acceptance/disposal. Operational Criteria: Unauthorized waste may be stored at the facility for 30 days, except that putrescible waste must be removed within 72 hours. States that an annual survey to…, New Regulation, ISW, C&D, Property line 100 Feet 100 Feet 100 Feet Residence, school, etc. 1000 Feet 1000 Feet 1000 Feet Drinking water well 100 Feet 500/750/1000 Feet 100 Feet Surface water bodies 200 Feet 200 Feet 200 Feet Utilities 50 Feet 50 Feet 50 Feet Right-of-ways 50 Feet 50 Feet 50 Feet Airport, *, 10,000 Feet (Turbojet) 5,000 Feet ( Turboprop) 10,000 Feet (Turbojet) 5,000 Feet ( Turboprop) NA NA Wetlands Compliance with USACE Same Same, *, Requires landfill owner with a landfill within these distances to demonstrate that the landfill does not pose a bird hazard, Note:, Existing landfills are exempt from these buffer requirements. , Guidance Documents:, Class Two Landfill Operating Criteria (pdf) Class Two Landfill Groundwater Monitoring Workplan Development Guidelines (pdf) Appendix I Listed Acceptable Wastes (pdf) Appendix II Listed Unacceptable Wastes (pdf) Waste Characterization Guidelines (pdf) Extract of SCDHEC Letter to Class Two Landfills (pdf) , Class 3 Landfill, Regulation 61-107.19, Part V contains criteria for landfills that accept municipal solid waste, industrial solid waste, sewage sludge, nonhazardous municipal solid waste incinerator ash and other nonhazardous waste. Hereinafter, these landfills will be referred to as Class 3 landfills. Class 3 landfills shall adhere to their approved Special Waste Analysis and Implementation Plan (SWAIP), per S.C…, Key Points on Class 3 Landfills, Requires waste characterization through the Special Waste Analysis and Implementation Plan New requirement to inspect 10 percent of incoming loads Landfills that were permitted as ISW Class II Landfills prior to the effective date of this regulation are exempt from design criteria provided the waste streams remain below 30 times the MCLs Leachate recirculation allowed under permit modification…, New Regulation, MSW, ISW II & III, Property line 200 Feet 100 Feet 100 Feet Residence, school, etc. 1000 Feet 200 Feet 200 Feet Drinking water well 500/750/1000 Feet 500/750/1000 Feet Same Surface water bodies 200 Feet 200 Feet 200 Feet Utilities 50 Feet 50 Feet 50 Feet Right-of-ways 50 Feet 50 Feet 50 Feet Airport 10,000 Feet (Turbojet) 5,000 Feet (Turboprop) 6 Miles (New Landfill) 10,000 Feet (Turbojet) 5,000 Feet (Turboprop…, Guidance Documents:, Special Waste Analysis & Implementation Plan (pdf) Extract of SCDHEC Letter to Class Three Landfills (pdf) Back to Top, Structural Fills, Regulation 61-107.19, Part II contains the legal requirements for structural fills. This section of the regulation addresses the general provisions that are specific to these activities and provides permit-by-rule registration, location, design, operational and closure requirements., Structural Fills as Defined in the Regulation, ", Structural fill, " means land filling for future beneficial use utilizing land-clearing debris, hardened concrete, hardened/cured asphalt, bricks, blocks, and other materials specified by the department by regulation, compacted and landfilled in a manner acceptable to the department, consistent with applicable engineering, and construction standards and carried out as a part of normal activities associated with…, the materials utilized must not have been contaminated by hazardous constituents, petroleum products, or painted with lead-based paint. Structural fill may not provide a sound structural base for building purposes., ", Beneficial fill, " means filling to surrounding grade, low areas or depressions in the surface of the earth to include permitted mining sites for an aesthetic benefit., Key Points on Structural Fills, Must be registered with DHEC under Permit-by-rule DHEC approval required to operate Consistency with local zoning and SC Coastal Zone Management Plan required Limits activity to 12-months or less Limits size to 1 acre or less Limits waste streams (the materials utilized must not have been contaminated by hazardous constituents, petroleum products, or painted with lead-based paint): Hardened…, Buffer Requirements, Property line 100 Feet Residence, school, etc. 200 Feet Drinking water well 100 Feet Surface water bodies 200 Feet Right-of-ways 50 Feet Airport NA Wetlands 50 Feet Between structural fills on the same property 500 Feet, Note:, Existing landfills are exempt from these buffer requirements. , More Information on Structural Fills:, Technical Assistance Structural Fill Sites (pdf) Application of Registration for Structural Fill (pdf) Regulation 61-107.19 (pdf)Demonstration of Need
Demonstration of Need (DON) refers to the criteria established for the geographical placement and allowable annual disposal rate of new and expanding solid waste management facilities. The original DON regulation was promulgated in June 2000 and on June 26, 2009, a revision to Regulation 61-107.17 SWM: "Demonstration of Need" became effective. The DON regulation addresses commercial Class 2…, Demonstration of Need Maps, Class 2 Landfills (pdf) Class 3 Landfills (pdf) Class 3 Solid Waste Processing Facilities (pdf)