Septic Tanks - Preventative Routine Maintenance
Septic Tank Maintenance Tips, Follow these tips to keep your septic tank system running smoothly and save yourself money on repairs. Have your septic system inspected every one to two years and cleaned (pumped out) every three to five years or more frequently, depending on the tank size and number of people using the system. Never flush cat litter, coffee grounds, diapers, towelettes (even the 'flushable' type), cigarette…, Important Warning, Be extremely careful around open or exposed septic tanks. Falling into a septic tank can cause death from suffocation or drowning. Even leaning over a septic tank can cause you to collapse., Pumping (Cleaning Out a Septic Tank), Most home septic tanks require cleaning every three to five years. Pumping is needed when solids fill from one-third to one-half of the tank. The only way to know when this occurs is to have your tank inspected by a septic contractor. The contractor will recommend pumping by a licensed septic pumper whenever: The bottom of the scum (grease) layer is within 6 inches of the bottom of the outlet tee…, General Advice on Septic Tank Pumping Frequency, Tank Size, Number of Residents, Pumping Frequency, 1,000 gallons, 1 Every 12 years 2 Every 6 years 4 Every 3 years 6 Every 2 years 8 Every 1 year, 1,250 gallons, 1 Every 16 years 2 Every 8 years 4 Every 3 years 6 Every 2 years 8 Every 1 years, 1,500 gallons, 1 Every 19 years 2 Every 9 years 4 Every 4 years 6 Every 3 years 8 Every 2 year, Septic Tank Inspections, To prevent problems, have your septic system inspected every one to two years by a licensed septic tank contractor and follow his or her advice about how often to clean out the tank. Alternative septic systems that have mechanical parts such as a pump should be inspected at least once a year or more frequently as recommended by the manufacturer. A septic tank contractor will: Locate your septic…, tank cleaning (pumping) , if needed Check the ground over the drainfield for sogginess or ponding, which could indicate improper drainage, a clogged system, excessive water use. The contractor may recommend a drainfield inspection, a separate process.Private Wells: What to Do Before and After Storms
English, |, Español, Before the storm, If you can safely get to the well, inspect it to ensure the well is properly secured and that there are no visible openings., After the storm, If your well was, NOT flooded, , its water is likely unchanged. No action is necessary. If your well, was flooded, :, Use bottled water, or, water that you boil, for drinking or cooking until you have properly disinfected and tested the well. Disinfect the well with unscented household bleach. Test the water to make sure the well was properly disinfected, and the water is not contaminated., Disinfect the Well, Before beginning: If the water is muddy or cloudy, run water from an outside spigot until it runs clear. Pour, 1 gallon of unscented household bleach, into the well casing. Run water from an outside hose into the well casing until you smell a chlorine odor. Turn on cold water faucets inside and outside of the home until you smell a chlorine odor. Shut off faucets. Wait 6 to 24 hours before you turn the faucets back on., Do NOT drink, cook, bathe or wash with this water, . After waiting: Run water from an outside hose into a safe area until you do not smell chlorine. SCDES recommends you test the water, 7-10 days, after disinfection. For complete step-by-step instructions on how to properly disinfect a well, visit:, epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/emergency-disinfection-drinking-water, or, https://des.sc.gov/programs/bureau-water/residential-wells/well-water-quality-testing-services, ., Test the Water, Visit a, local SCDES office, and pick up a kit for testing the water. Kits includes a form to fill out, a sterile sample bottle and instructions., Follow the instructions carefully, . Fill up the bottle, complete the form and return the sample back to the SCDES regional office or local health department., Sample must be returned THE DAY it was collected, . SCDES recommends you use bottled or boiled water until you get your water test results showing your water is safe to drink., If you have questions or need help, please call, SCDES’s Private Well Hotline at, 1-888-761-5989, .Land Application: Permit Program Definitions
Agricultural waste facility, means any collection, treatment, disposal or recycling activity involving livestock (such as cattle, poultry, swine and turkeys), dogs, horses, pigeons, quail, or other birds and animals including any activity with the production of manures, dead birds or litter., Aquifer, means a geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield usable quantities of groundwater to springs or wells., Background groundwater analysis, means the chemical or biological quality of groundwater before application of wastewater or sludge; or the groundwater chemistry or biological quality up- gradient to the site of concern., Basin or lagoon, means any in-ground or earthen structure designed to receive, treat, store, temporarily retain and/or allow for the infiltration/evaporation of wastewater., Best management practices (BMPs), means schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the pollution of waters of the State. BMPs also include treatment requirements, operating procedures and practices to control plant site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage., Down-gradient, means the portion of the water table that is down the hydraulic slope of the water table with respect to a specific area or point of reference., Evaporation basin, means a basin designed specifically for the atmospheric or enhanced evaporation of liquid., Groundwater, means water below the land surface found in fractured rock or various soil strata., Groundwaters, of the State" means all sources of groundwater wholly, partially, or bordering the State of South Carolina or within its jurisdiction., Hydraulic loading, means the rate at which liquid is applied to the land per unit area. The term "application rate" may be used for "hydraulic loading"., Hydrogeologic characteristics, means the physical properties of the subsurface and its interaction with the hydraulic properties of groundwater (e.g., migration or infiltration)., Infiltration , means the flow of water downward from the land surface into and through the soil., Land, for the purpose of this regulation means the soil and rock above the water table aquifer and the ground surface., Land Application, means use and/or disposal of treated wastewater, sewage sludge, industrial sludge, septage, or additional sources (see R.61-9.505.1(b)(2)) to the land., Land Application Permit, refers to a permit issued by the Department applicable to a treatment system, source or site with no resulting discharge to surface waters of the State., Land of the State, means all land surface which is wholly or partially within the State of South Carolina or within its jurisdiction., Land slope, means the rate of increase or decrease of elevation over a given linear distance., Land surface, means the area of land open to the atmosphere., New or expansions, means a facility or land application site that is: new and has not been permitted (including existing sites such as golf courses that have not been used for effluent disposal); an increase (either in quantity or loading) in pollutant disposal to the facility or land application site; a change in the pollutant disposal to the facility or land application site (such as the introduction of a new…, Monitoring well, means any well used to sample groundwater for water quality analysis or to measure groundwater levels., ND, or, No Discharge, means land application. The terms "ND permit" or "No Discharge permit" may be used for "Land Application permit"., Percolation pond, means any lagoon, basin or constructed impoundment having a leakage rate in excess of 500 gallons/day/acre., Permeability, means the capacity of soil, rock, or other material to transmit fluids., Pollutant, : Means filter backwash, sewage, sewage sludge, industrial sludge, septage, or industrial, municipal, agricultural and domestic waste. Does not mean water, gas, or other material which is injected into a well to facilitate production of oil or gas, or water derived in association with oil and gas production and disposed of in a well, if the well used either to facilitate production or for…, Potable water well, means a well that supplies drinking water for human consumption., Restrictive soil horizon, means the top of the most impermeable soil layer encountered., Seasonal high water table, means the highest water table as determined in the soil profile by the encountered indications of soil mottling or iron concretions or by measuring seasonal fluctuations of the water table in a water table well over a period acceptable to the Department., Septage, means the liquid and solid material pumped from septic tank, cesspool or similar domestic sewage treatment system, or a holding tank when the system is cleaned or maintained., Spray field, means a specified area where properly treated wastes, treated effluent from process, agricultural or domestic wastewater, sewage sludge, industrial sludge or other sources is applied to the land. The terms "application area", "application site", or "spray disposal area" may also be used., Soil boring, means any hand- or mechanically-powered method by which samples of the subsurface can be retrieved for characterization or description., Source, means any discernible conveyance, including but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, or mobile equipment (such as sludge application truck or device), from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not include return flows from irrigated agriculture., State permit, refers to a permit issued by the Department for other sources covered by this regulation (other than Land Application Permits) such as activities covered under R.61-9.505.1(b)(2). The term "State Permit Program" may also be used to describe the entire permit program under R.61-9.505., Storage or holding basin, means any basin designed to retain wastewater before, during or after treatment and would not include waters of the State., Tile field, means a specific area where a network of soil adsorption trenches is installed below the land surface for the purpose of providing final treatment and disposal of wastewater., Treated wastewater, means properly treated effluent from process or domestic wastewater, treated wastes from other sources (see R.61-9.505.1(b)(2)) or treated effluent from a treatment facility., Up-gradient, means the portion of the water table that is up the hydraulic slope of the water table with respect to a specific area or point of reference., Vadose zone, means the zone between the land surface and the water table., WWTP, means wastewater treatment plant., Water table, means the level below the land surface at which all the voids are filled with water at a pressure equal to atmospheric. The depth to the water level in the ground is to be measured at least 24 hours after encountering it in a well., Water table mound, means a high point in the seasonal or normal water table which is artificially created by the infiltration of liquid., Well, means any excavation which is cored, bored, drilled, jetted, dug, or otherwise constructed and has a depth greater than its largest surface diameter.Land Application Permit Program Exemptions
(Section 505.3 of SC Regulation 61-9) 505.3 Exclusions. The following discharges do not require Land Application permits or State permits: The introduction of sewage, industrial wastes or other pollutants into publicly owned treatment works by indirect dischargers. Plans or agreements to switch to this method of disposal in the future do not relieve dischargers of the obligation to have and…Land Application Permit Program Fees
Application Fees. There are no application fees for ND Permits. However, there are annual operating fees. For new (first time) permits, the first year's fee must be paid in full before the permit can be issued. The first year's fee is not prorated. Annual Fees. Regulation 61-30, Environmental Protection Fees , allows the Bureau to charge an annual fee for persons holding a valid ND Permit on…, Flow (gpd) *, Fee, Greater than 4,999,999 $2,660 2,000,000 to 4,999,999 $2,130 1,000,000 to 1,999,999 $1,600 500,000 to 999,999 $1,330 100,000 to 499,999 $1,065 50,000 to 99,999 $800 0 to 49,999 $530 * For domestic facilities, flow is based on permit flow. For industrial facilities, flow is based on actual maximum flow (i.e., greatest daily max. flow - cumulative of all pipes) during the previous fiscal year.…, Fee Administration:, Once an ND permit is issued, fees are assessed annually to persons who hold effective permits on July 1st of each year. This includes non-operational facilities even if the facility has not been built and continues until the permit is canceled. Therefore, any facility with an active operating permit on July 1st is subject to the fee for the state Fiscal Year (July 1-June 30) with no proration…Land Application Permit Program Renewal of Permits
Overview, ND permits are issued for a term not to exceed ten years. Permits must be renewed before they expire for a discharge to continue. To begin the renewal process, a permittee must submit a renewal application to the Bureau of Water (Bureau) at least 180 days prior to their permit's expiration date. The Bureau may allow a renewal application to be submitted at a later date but in no case past a…, Renewal Notifications, As a service to the regulated community, the Bureau helps permittees make a timely and complete application for renewal of their ND permits by sending them notifications advising them of their application due dates. These notifications are sent to each permittee, via ePermitting, 270 days and 210 days prior to the expiration date of their permit. Please note that these reminder notifications are…, Reissued Permit Conditions, Permittees are not guaranteed that reissued permit conditions will be the same as the previous ND permit conditions. When ND permits are considered for renewal, all permit conditions are evaluated based on the regulations in effect at the time of renewal. The issuance of an ND permit does not create any vested right in any person. In other words, just because an ND permit was previously issued…Public Notice Requirements
Overview, Proposed decisions to issue, modify, reissue, deny, or terminate an ND permit must be public noticed prior to the Bureau making the final decision except for minor modifications. If there are significant issues or sufficient public interest in a proposed decision, the Bureau must hold a public hearing. Public hearings must also be public noticed. The notice for a public hearing may be combined…, New or Expanding Discharge, Public notices for new or expanding discharges are mailed to the persons listed in Item I. Also, public notices for new or expanding discharges are placed in newspapers of general circulation in the areas of the discharges. Additionally, for new discharges, the Department posts the notices in locations in the areas of the facilities and/or application sites., Modification Other Than Expansion, Public notices on proposed modifications, except minor modifications, are mailed to the persons listed in Item I. Also, public notices for major modifications are posted in the County Court Houses of the counties where the facilities are located and the Post Offices and Town Halls of the towns nearest the discharges. Please note that minor modifications do not have to be public noticed., Reissuance, All public notices on reissuances of ND permits are mailed to the persons listed in Item I. Public notices on reissuance of ND permits are posted in the County Court Houses of the counties where the facilities are located and the Post Offices and Town Halls of the towns nearest the facilities. For more information on renewals, please visit our ND WEB page on Permit Renewal Information ., Termination, All public notices of termination of ND permits are mailed to the persons listed in Item I. Public notices on termination of ND permits are posted in the County Court Houses of the counties where the facilities are located and the Post Offices and Town Halls of the towns nearest the discharges., Public Hearings, Public notices on public hearings are placed in newspapers of general circulation in the areas of the discharges. Additionally, if a previous public notice was issued on the proposed permit decision, the public notice of the hearing will be mailed to every person who sent written comments to the Bureau.Debris Management in South Carolina
There are three types of solid waste management facilities that the public can utilize in order to properly handle debris generated by storms: Composters, Class 2 Landfills, & Class 3 Landfills. The difference in classification is related to the types of waste that can be accepted and how they are managed. This map shows the locations of Composters, Class 2 and Class 3 Landfills in the State…, CLASS 2 LANDFILLS, Class 2 Landfills are only allowed to dispose of construction and demolition type debris. Some examples include: Land-clearing debris Asphalt Concrete Shingles Lumber Bricks and blocks Brown goods (furniture) Other inert debris For a full list of items that can be taken to a Class 2 Landfill, please see Regulation 61-107.19, Appendix I ., CLASS 3 LANDFILLS, Class 3 Landfills can accept nearly all waste that is disposed of in a Class 2 Landfill, with the exception of land-clearing debris. Some examples of land-clearing debris include: Trees Shrubs Leaves Soil Class 3 Landfills can accept municipal solid waste (household waste), but cannot accept infectious waste or hazardous waste. If you have debris that you wish to take to one of these facilities,…, COMPOSTING FACILITIES, Composting facilities can, only accept land-clearing debris, . They cannot take any construction and demolition type debris. These facilities are usually very limited in how much debris they can have on-site at one time so it is extremely important to call ahead to make sure they have enough capacity for your material.How Landfills Work
How Landfills Work, It's not a dump - so don't call it that. It's not just some hole in the ground either - it's much too expensive to build and operate to think of it that way. It's a Class 3 landfill that accepts municipal solid waste (MSW). It's the place your household garbage calls home. So, just what is a Class 3 landfill? A Class 3 landfill is a scientifically engineered facility built into or on the ground…, From Your Home to the Landfill, You think garbage, you think garbage truck. Depending on the Class 3 landfill's size, as many as 200 trucks may come every day. The trucks come from all over, too. Why? Well, Class 3 landfills are difficult to locate as well as expensive to build and operate. Given that, there are fewer Class 3 landfills today than in the past, but they are larger and accept MSW from greater distances. There are…, What Happens Every Day, The daily operation at a Class 3 landfill includes dumping of waste into a specific area of the landfill - called a working face - followed by compaction (crushing) of the waste and then covering of the waste with soil. Waste is dumped into an open area of the landfill called a cell. Class 3 landfills almost always just have one cell open at a time to accept waste. At the same time, another cell…, The Sum of Its Parts, Here are some basic parts of a landfill., 1., The, bottom liner system, is designed to keep waste from coming in contact with the environment - particularly groundwater. From the bottom up, the system is: 1) 2 feet of clay 2) a plastic liner and 3) a protective layer 2 feet thick, usually comprised of sand., 2. Cells, are specific areas where the waste is dumped and compacted (crushed)., 3., The, storm water drainage system, collects rainwater that falls on the landfill. The system may include plastic drainage pipes that collect water and move it to a retention pond at the Class 3 landfill. This water has not come into contact with the garbage., 4., The, leachate collection system, collects liquids - called leachate - that are part of the MSW and any water (e.g., rainwater) that comes into contact with the garbage. This water works its way through the Class 3 landfill like water percolating through coffee grounds. As the water moves through the garbage, it picks up contaminants. It must be collected and treated., 5. Methane collection systems, collect methane gas created during the decomposition of garbage. Bacteria break down the garbage. The by-product is landfill gas that is about half methane and half carbon dioxide with very small amounts of nitrogen and oxygen. Methane gas presents a hazard because it can explode and/or burn. Methane is actively collected in a series of pipes, then passively vented or burned through a flare. Ten…, ., The, final covering or cap, is placed on the Class 3 landfill when it is closed. The final cover has: 1) 18 inches of clay at the bottom; 2) a plastic liner in the middle; and 3) 2 feet of soil on top. The covering seals the waste from air and reduces the amount of water getting into the landfill. It also prevents pests (birds, rats, mice, flying insects and so on) from getting into the waste., The Life Expectancy of a Landfill, The life of a landfill depends on the size of the facility, the disposal rate and the compaction rate. All Class 3 landfills are permitted by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control to accept a specific amount (tons) of waste each year - this amount cannot be exceeded. As mentioned earlier, Class 3 landfill operators strive for the maximum compaction rate possible in order to save…, When a Class 3 Landfill Closes, When a Class 3 landfill is full, it is closed with a final cover that includes a clay layer, a plastic liner and a soil layer. Even though the facility is closed, the responsibility of the landfill operator does not end. Class 3 landfill owners must set aside money (called financial assurance) to close the landfill and to provide post-closure care in the event of potential environmental issues.…, DISCLAIMER:, The definitions in this fact sheet do not constitute SCDES's official use of terms for regulatory purposes. Specific legal definitions of some words may be found in various South Carolina laws and regulations.Landfill Classifications and General Requirements
Class One Landfill, Regulation 61-107.19 Part III contains the requirements for Class One Landfills. This section of the regulation addresses the general permit, general provision that are specific to these landfills, notice of intent procedures, and record keeping and reporting requirements. Anyone wanting a copy of the most recent general permit should contact Solid Waste Permitting and Monitoring Section staff., Key Points on Class One 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 One Landfill Requires the retention of landfill records for three years Buffer Requirements Property…, , Guidance Documents:, Class One Landfill Operating Criteria, Class Two Landfill, Regulation 61-107.19 Part IV establishes criteria for Class Two 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…, Key Points on Class Two 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 determine…, 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) NA NA 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 Class Two Landfill Groundwater Monitoring Workplan Development Guidelines Appendix I Listed Acceptable Wastes Appendix II Listed Unacceptable Wastes Waste Characterization Guidelines Extract of SCDHEC Letter to Class Two Landfills, Class Three 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 Three landfills. Class Three landfills shall adhere to their approved Special Waste Analysis and Implementation Plan (SWAIP),…, Key Points on Class Three Landfills, Requires waste characterization through the Special Waste Analysis and Implementation Plan New requirement to inspect 10% 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 Buffers…, 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 Guidelines Extract of SCDHEC Letter to Class Three Landfills, 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…, Note:, Existing landfills are exempt from these buffer requirements. , More Information on Structural Fills:, Technical Assistance Structural Fill Sites Application of Registration for Structural Fill Regulation 61-107.19, Solid Waste Management: Solid Waste Landfills and Structural Fill