Operator Classification
Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution licenses are issued through Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, Board of Environmental Certification . General information on licensing requirements is listed below. Treatment Plant Group Description Treatment Certification Required I A facility which provides disinfection treatment using a sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite solution as the…, Distribution, The addition of distribution system groupings and associated operator requirements will ensure that people making decisions concerning the operation of distribution system which could affect public health meet minimum standards for distribution system operator certification. Distribution System Group Description, Distribution Certification Required, I Distribution systems associated with state and transient noncommunity water systems. None II Distribution systems associated with community and nontransient noncommunity public water systems that have a reliable production capacity* not greater than six hundred thousand gallons a day and which do not provide fire protection. D III Distribution systems associated with community and nontransient…, *, The, reliable production capacity, of a water system for the purpose of determining distribution system grouping means the total capacity of a water system including all wells, surface water sources and purchased sources. This capacity is determined by the Department as a part of routine sanitary surveys and is available through your EA Regional Office sanitary survey contact., Contact, Richard Welch, Jr. P.E., Manager, Drinking Water & Recreational Waters Compliance, (803) 898-3546Small Business Water Systems
A small water system is one that has its own well, or is served through a metered connection from a publicly-owned water system and has less than 1,000 feet of distribution piping that serves the following: Facilities serving less than 25 people such as: Daycare center Residential care facility Other business establishments Small Business Water System Construction Permit Application (SCDES Form…, Contact, Richard Welch, Jr. P.E., Manager, Drinking Water & Recreational Waters Compliance, (803) 898-3546Water System Classifications
Water treatment plants are classified based on system size and type as defined by R. 44-55 State Safe Drinking Water Act., Type C - Community Water System, A public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. This may include, but is not limited to, subdivisions, municipalities, mobile home parks, and apartments. Sanitary surveys are performed annually., Type P or NTNC - Non-transient Non-community Water System, A public water system that is not a community water system and that regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons over six months per year. Sanitary surveys are performed every two years., Type N or TNC - Transient Non-community Water System, A non-community water system that does not regularly serve at least 25 of the same persons over six months a year. Sanitary surveys are performed every three years., Type S or NP - State Water System, Any water system that serves less than 15 service connections or regularly serves an average of less than 25 individuals daily. Sanitary surveys are performed every five years., Contacts, Richard Welch, Jr. P.E., Manager, Drinking Water & Recreational Waters Compliance, (803) 898-3546 Wendi Smith , Program Manager, Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring Section, (803) 898-2382Regulations
Safe Drinking Water Act (Federal Law), A federal law which ensures safe drinking water for Americans Under this law the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards for water quality of drinking water and oversees the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement those standards. EPA sets standards for approximately 90 contaminants in drinking water, State Safe Drinking Water Act (State Law), South Carolina state law that ensures safe drinking water for the citizens of South Carolina., State Primary Drinking Water Regulations, South Carolina State Regulations that implement and enforce the State Safe Drinking Water Act. Flow Chart of Regulations, National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, EPA requires public water systems to meet these standards. For a list of contaminants and their maximum contaminant levels (MCL), visit EPA's Drinking Water Contaminants Web site ., Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water., National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (NSDWRs), NSDWRs are guidelines for 15 contaminants that may cause cosmetic or aesthetic effects in drinking water (i.e. skin or tooth discoloration, taste, odor, etc.), but pose no known health risk. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends these secondary standards to public water systems, but does not require water systems to comply. States may choose to adopt secondary standards as…, Contacts, Richard Welch, Jr. P.E., Manager, Drinking Water & Recreational Waters Compliance, (803) 898-3546 Wendi Smith , Program Manager, Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring Section, (803) 898-2382Testing Your Drinking Water
Public Water System Water Treatment Plant, If you receive a water bill, then your drinking water most likely is from a public water system. Public water systems perform routine tests regulated by Federal and State standards. Public water systems (that serve the same people year round) are required by law to provide their customers with a water quality report, also known as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)., What is a Water Quality Report or CCR?, The CCR is a summary report regarding water sources used (rivers, lakes, aquifers), any detected contaminants, compliance, and educational materials., How To Find My Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), Each year you should receive your CCR, also known as water quality report, by mail from your water utility. The CCR is due to customers by July 1st every year. Some utilities will post their CCRs online. Below are links to most major water providers in South Carolina. Beaufort - Jasper Water & Sewer Authority Charleston Water System City of Aiken City of Columbia Water Works City of Myrtle…, Additional Information & Links, Testing your well water and a listing of fees, Contact, Greg Withycombe , Water Monitoring, Assessment and Protection for Private Wells, (803) 898-3232 Wendi Smith , Program Manager, Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring Section, (803) 898-2382Drinking Water Protection Program Overview
Access to safe drinking water is essential to human health. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) administers and enforces drinking water quality standards and regulations - working with public water systems to keep our drinking water safe. South Carolina's water systems have a very high overall compliance with all chemical and biological drinking water standards and…, In the News, Lead exposure and drinking water quality has been an important topic in the news recently. For more information about protecting drinking water in South Carolina from lead, visit our Lead and Drinking Water page.Concerns with Drinking Water
Drinking water treatment plant operators work around the clock to provide you with safe drinking water. Even with the best efforts, issues can sometimes occur for several reasons. Contaminants These reasons include: Contaminants getting into the source of your drinking water Improperly maintained distribution system (pipes, fixtures, etc.) Drinking water that is not properly treated or…, Signs & Effects of Common Drinking Water Concerns, If you notice a change in your drinking water, you may want to have it tested. Below is information to help you decide what contaminant may be the concern. Containment Signs & Symptoms Effects, Baceffectsteria, No signs or symptoms Gastrointestinal illness, which may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, & diarrhea, Chlorides, Salty Taste Not generally considered harmful to humans or animals. May contribute to the corrosion of household appliances and plumbing., Copper, Blue-green stain on plumbing fixtures Very bitter, medicinal taste found when above 1.3 mg/l Short-term exposure can cause stomach cramps and intestinal discomfort Long term exposure may cause liver and kidney damage, Fluoride, Children exposed to excessive amounts may develop white or brown spots on their teeth. Excessive fluoride is a concern only when water is used for cooking and drinking., Hardness, Soaps won't lather. Excessively hard water will cause a hard, chalky scale to form when the water is heated. Not considered a health hazard. Excessive hard water may cause reduced water heater capacity leading to a burn-out., Hydrogen Sulfide, Rotten egg odor Sulfur taste. Speeds up the corrosion of metal plumbing materials., Iron & Manganese, Bitter, metallic taste Stains on plumbing fixtures, appliances, and laundry No evidence to indicate the amount normally found in a well is harmful., Lead, See information on high-risk groups, Corrosion of home plumbing materials containing lead Damage to brain, nervous system, kidney, and red blood cells. Pregnant women, fetuses, infants and young children are at a greater risk. Permanently stunt growth if children are overexposed during growing stage., Nitrate, See information on high risk groups, In babies: shortness of breath, blueness of skin. In healthy adults: relatively little effect, even when consumed at large quantities. Infants, pregnant women, individuals with reduced gastric acidity, and individuals with a hereditary lack of methemoglobin reductase. Causes severe oxygen deficiency and can lead to death for those at high risk., Radium, No signs or symptoms A lifetime of drinking water with high levels of radium may increase the risk of certain cancers., Sodium, Salty taste, if sodium & chlorides are present Bitter taste, if sodium & sulfates are present Increases blood pressure that can eventually lead to hypertension., Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Salty taste when chlorides are present. Bitter taste when sulfates are present. Medicinal taste when bicarbonates are present Temporary laxative effect may occur after drinking water when sulfates make up most of the TDS. Household plumbing and appliances will deteriorate faster. (Source: SCDES's Common Water Quality Problems and their Treatment and EPA ), Information for High Risk Groups, Some populations are at a greater risk of experiencing health effects when exposed to certain contaminants. These sensitive populations include: Pregnant women Fetuses Infants Young children Individuals with reduced gastric acidity Individuals with a hereditary lack of methemoglobin reductase These groups (listed above) should be particularly careful about exposure to the following contaminants:…, Additional Information & Links, SCDES Flushing Fact Sheet Where do these contaminants come from? Basic information about drinking water contaminants More information about health effects of contaminants in drinking water Testing your drinking water EPA's Secondary Drinking Water Regulations are guidelines for contaminants that may cause cosmetic or aesthetic effects in drinking water., Contact, Richard Welch, Jr. P.E., Manager, Drinking Water & Recreational Waters Compliance, (803) 898-3546Drinking Water Quality
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the federal law that regulates the quality of public drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established national health-based standards to protect residents from both natural and man-made contaminants that may be found in drinking water. Public drinking water systems provide drinking water to approximately three-fourths (78 percent) of…, Take Action From the River...to Your Tap. It's All Connected!, Whether your drinking water comes from a lake, river, reservoir, or groundwater, it's important to protect it from contamination. Animal waste, fertilizer, pesticides, motor oil, gasoline, and other contaminants can get carried to your drinking water source through runoff pollution . Do your part to help reduce runoff pollution: Compost or mulch yard debris and keep piles for pick-up away from…, Related Resources, SCDES Resources, Understanding Your Drinking Water Source Water Protection Private Drinking Water Wells Protect Your Drinking Water Boil Water Emergencies, Other Resources, CDC Drinking Water EPA Drinking Water EPA WaterSense Program National Library of Medicine Drinking Water Pesticides in Drinking Water Tox Town Drinking WaterUnderground Injection Control Program
The Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program issues Permits to Construct and Permits to Operate to facilities that intend to emplace fluids into the subsurface by means of an injection well. The regulations set forth specific requirements for controlling underground injection in the state and include provisions for: The classification and regulation of injection wells Prohibiting unauthorized…, What is an injection well?, An injection well is any excavation that is cored, bored, drilled, jetted, dug or otherwise constructed, the depth of which is greater than its largest surface dimension used to inject fluids into the subsurface. An injection well may also be any dug hole with a depth that is greater than the largest surface dimension. Also included are improved sinkholes or subsurface fluid distribution systems., Injection wells are divided into five classifications:, Class I: These are wells used to inject industrial disposal wastes, sewage and other non-hazardous or non-radioactive wastes generated by municipalities, and wells used by generators of hazardous waste. These wells are prohibited in the state. Class II: Wells used to inject fluids which are brought to the surface in connection with conventional oil or natural gas production. These fluids may be…, Law(s), The Pollution Control Act (Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the 1976 Code of Laws), Regulations, Regulation 61-87, Underground Injection Control Regulations Federal Underground Injection Control Regulations, 40 CFR 144-146, Permitting, ePermitting is Live ePermitting Online Services ePermitting Training - Underground Injection Control Underground Injection Control Permit Application and Instructions Underground Injection Control (UIC) Guidance Document The following informative session presentation was delivered to the UIC regulated community regarding the permitting process on February, 26 2020: UIC Informative Session…, Contact, Leigh Anne Monroe (803) 898-2415 Email: UIC@des.sc.govCoalition, Advisory Council
The State Coalition of Remediation of Dry Cleaners (funded by the EPA): Provides a forum for the exchange of information and discussion of implementation issues related to established state dry cleaner programs Shares information and lessons learned with states without dry cleaner-specific programs Encourages the use of innovative technologies in dry cleaner remediation.