Drinking Water Resources
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…Protecting Your Drinking Water and FAQs
Whether your drinking water comes from a lake, river, reservoir, or groundwater, it's important to protect the source from contamination. One of the best ways to protect your drinking water is to prevent pollution from getting into your drinking water source. Your drinking water can become polluted with animal waste, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, motor oil, gasoline, and other substances as…, runoff pollution, . All public water systems have identified potential sources of contamination and are working on , source water protection, plans. You can get involved in protecting your drinking water too by contacting your water provider. If you have your own drinking water well, you can take steps to protect your water source. Be sure the well cover, cap, and casing are in good repair, and install a locking well cap. Keep hazardous chemicals like paint, fertilizer, pesticides, gasoline, and motor oil away from your well. Check…, Contact, :, Leigh Anne Flynn, , (803) 898-3531Privacy
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) establishes this privacy notice on the collection and dissemination of personal information in accordance with Sections 30-2-10 through 30-2-50 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that the collection of personal information by the Department is limited to such personal information as is required…, Privacy Complaints, Any person who believes SCDES has inappropriately released their confidential information may file a complaint with the SCDES Compliance Office. Please complete an, SCDES Privacy Complaint Form (D-2026), . You may: Email the form to, compliance@des.sc.gov, , or Mail the form to: SCDES Compliance Office, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201 Complaints also may be taken via telephone at, (803) 898-3944, The Compliance Office will respond to the complaint within thirty (30) calendar days and will take reasonable steps to resolve the matter. The complainant may be contacted for more information. The complainant will be notified of the findings and any action(s) to be taken. , Definitions, Personal information, - means information that identifies or describes an individual including, but not limited to, an individual's photograph or digitized image, social security number, date of birth, driver's identification number, name, home address, home telephone number, medical or disability information, education level, financial status, bank account(s) number(s), account or identification number issued by and/…, Legitimate public purpose, - means a purpose or use which falls clearly within the statutory charge or mandates of an agency, board, commission, institution, department, or other state entity., Commercial solicitation, - means contact by telephone, mail, or electronic mail for the purpose of selling or marketing a consumer product or service. 'Commercial solicitation' does not include contact by whatever means for the purpose of: offering membership in a credit union; notification of continuing education opportunities sponsored by not-for-profit professional associations; selling or marketing banking, insurance…, Automatically Collected Information, When you visit the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) website, we automatically collect certain data to analyze website usage and enhance user experience. This information is gathered in raw form and is not used to personally identify or contact visitors. If you access our website to view or download content, we may collect and store: Your IP address and domain name. The…, Emails Sent to SCDES, When you send an email to SCDES, you may provide personal information such as your name, physical address, or email address. For example, if you submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, we may store your contact details to respond appropriately or address your inquiry., Online Forms and Registrations, Some DES website features may require you to complete a form, such as when requesting information, providing feedback, or participating in surveys. The details you provide help us better understand user needs and improve our services., Use of Cookies, Our website utilizes cookies to enhance site functionality and improve user experience. Cookies are small data files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help us: Track website traffic patterns and usage trends. Remember preferences to provide a more personalized experience. Improve website content and functionality based on user interactions. Cookies are only used for aggregate…, Data Privacy & Public Records, SCDES is committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of your information. While authorized SCDES employees may access your data as part of their job responsibilities, we take appropriate measures to protect your privacy. However, as a public agency, SCDES may be required to disclose certain information under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). While FOIA promotes…, Use for Commercial Solicitation Prohibited, Section 30-2-50 of the South Carolina Family Privacy Protection Act prohibits persons or private entities from obtaining or using any personal information obtained from the Department for commercial solicitation. A person knowingly violating this prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor offense and subject to the penalties specified in 30-2-50 (D). Any person or entity requesting or obtaining…, Changes to this Notice, SCDES may change this privacy notice occasionally. All changes will be posted on this website. By continuing to use the website after changes are posted, you accept and agree to this privacy notice, as amended., Party Responsible for Administration of the Notice, If you have any questions about this privacy notice, please contact: SCDES Compliance Office 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201, Compliance@des.sc.gov,Website Accessibility and Policies
Accessibility, This website has been designed with consideration for those who use Web accessibility assistive technology. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) makes every possible effort to ensure that all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained or used by SCDES is accessible to people with disabilities, including both our employees and the public we…, webmaster@des.sc.gov, ., Copyright and Trademark Notice, This website and its content, including but not limited to text, graphics, artwork, sound, audio-visual material, pictorial and musical works, compilations, derivative works, programming, and source code are protected by U.S. copyright law. The SCDES logo is a trademark and service mark of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. You may not: (1) reproduce, adapt, modify,…, Disclaimer, The SCDES maintains this website as a service to the public. While SCDES makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information, various data such as names, telephone numbers, etc. may change prior to updating. SCDES welcomes suggestions on how to improve our home page and correct errors. SCDES provides no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of…, Website Privacy Notice, The privacy, confidence, and trust of individuals who visit the SCDES website are important to us. No personal information is collected at this site unless provided voluntarily by an individual while participating in an activity that asks for the information. If you choose to provide us with personal information, as in an e-mail message, SCDES will use this information to respond to your request…Pay an Invoice
Pay a SCDES invoice, visit, the SC.GOV Online Payments Portal, (Note: When you click the link, you will leave the SCDES website altogether and go to a separate S.C. government website where you can pay your invoice.)Whistleblower Protections
South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) promotes compliance with federal and state laws to combat fraud, waste and abuse in government programs. All employees, including management, must be aware of applicable legal requirements and whistleblower protections., Applicable laws are summarized in Appendix A of Policy A.302. Protections granted under S.C. Code Title 8 Chapter 27: “, Employment Protection for Reports of Violations of State or Federal Law or Regulation, ” are summarized below:, What constitutes wrongdoing?, According to, S.C. Code Section 8-27-10, , "wrongdoing" means action by a public body and/or employee which results in substantial abuse, misuse, destruction, or loss of substantial public funds or public resources. "Wrongdoing" also includes an allegation that a public employee has intentionally violated federal or state statutory law or regulations or other political subdivision ordinances or regulations or a code of ethics, which…, How can I report suspected wrongdoing?, Call the SCDES Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline at, 803-898-7533, ; or Complete the “, Fraud and Abuse Hotline Complaint/Allegation, ” form and submitting to, Fraud.Hotline@des.sc.gov, ., What benefits or protections are available to me if I report alleged wrongdoing?, SCDES may discipline any direct line supervisory employee who retaliates against you for having filed a good faith report alleging wrongdoing. If your report results in a saving of any public money, you are eligible for a limited monetary reward up to 25% of the estimated net savings resulting from the first year of implementation of your report (not to exceed $2,000) as determined by the…, S.C. Code Section 8-27-10, , you may institute a nonjury civil action against the employing public body for: Reinstatement to his former position; Lost wages; Actual damages not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars; Reasonable attorney fees as determined by the court, but this award of attorney fees may not exceed ten thousand dollars for any trial and five thousand dollars for any appeal. The action must be brought in the…, NOTE:, An action under this chapter must be commenced within one year after the accrual of the cause of action or exhaustion of all available grievance or other administrative and judicial remedies or is forever barred., What else should I know about reporting wrongdoing?, A public body may take disciplinary action against you if the report is unfounded or merely technical and made in bad faith, up to and including termination. Public bodies may take disciplinary action against you for other reasons unrelated to the report.State Remediation Attachments
AVX Corporation, AVX Fact Sheet Figure 1, AVX Fact Sheet Figure 2, April 09 Progress Report, May 09 Progress Report, June 09 Progress Report, July 09 Progress Report, August 09 Progress Report, Sept 09 Progress Report, Oct 09 Progress Report, Nov 09 Progress Report, AVX-MB Proposed Plan 110111, EFP, EFP February 5, 2008 Public Meeting PowerPoint Presentation, EFP Large Map with One Mile Radius, EFP Proposed Plan--Addendum, Stoller Chemical, Proposed Plan for and Amendment to the Record of Decision for OU1 (Groundwater) Dated 1999 with Figure 1 - Site Location Map, Figure 1 - Stoller Site Location Map, Stoller IGWTS Process Flow Diagram, Areal Extent of Cadium Plume IGWTS Pumping OU-1 (2001-2005), Alternative 3 Pump and Treat Only Aeral Extent of Impacted Groundwater, Alternative 4 SRBR Only Areal Extent of Impacted Groundwater, Alternative 5 Pump and Treat/SRBR Areal Extent of Impacted Groundwater, 2007 RSG Settlement Agreement, 2002 State Agreement SJWG and RSG, Comment 2008 SJWF Statement Agreement, ASCO Site, Proposed Plan Presentation, Public Meeting Transcript, Proposed Plan, IVAX Site, Amendment to Voluntary Cleanup Contract 02-5416-RP, SCE&G-Fleet Management Site, Remedial Investigation Report 05/01/07, SCE&G Investigation Approval 08/29/08, Removal Action Work Plan 08/07/09, SCANA'S Summary of Supplemental Delineation Activities 04/21/09, DHEC'S Removal Action Memorandum 09/21/09, SCE&G MGPSite, Proposed Plan Final,Common Aquatic Plant Management Problems
Aquatic plants can be a part of a healthy, balanced pond environment, providing food and cover for some species of fish and other aquatic creatures. Plants can also help add oxygen to the water. However, sometimes plants become too prolific in a pond, causing problems with pond access, water flow, and inefficient predation by bass. Too many plants remove valuable nutrients needed for fish growth…, Please note:, This information is intended for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names are made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended of other products which may be available. Any herbicides recommended herein for the treatment of aquatic vegetation have been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in the manner described. The…Stormwater Runoff Pollutants
From Urban Runoff Handbook (EPA, 1993), Pollutants, Sources, Effects, Sediments, - TSS, turbidity, dissolved solids Construction sites, urban/agricultural runoff, landfills, septic fields Habitat changes, stream turbidity, recreation and aesthetic loss, contaminant transport, bank erosion, Nutrients, - Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, Organic Nitrogen, Phosphate, Total Phosphorus Urban/agricultural runoff, Landfills, septic fields, atmospheric deposition, erosion Algal blooms, ammonia toxicity, nitrate toxicity, Pathogens, - Total and fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, viruses,, E.Coli, , Enterococcus Urban/agricultural runoff, septic systems, illicit sanitary connections, boat discharges, domestic/wild animals Ear/intestinal infections, shellfish bed closure, recreation and aesthetic loss, Organic Enrichment*, - BOD, COD, TOC, DO Urban/agricultural runoff, landfills, septic fields Dissolved oxygen depletion, Odors, Fish Kills, Toxic Pollutants, - metals, organics Urban/agricultural runoff, pesticides/herbicides, underground storage tanks, hazardous waste sites, landfills, illegal oil disposal, industrial discharges Bioaccumulation in food chain, Toxicity to humans and other organisms, Salts, - sodium chloride Urban Runoff, snowmelt Vehicular corrosion, contamination to drinking water, harmful to salt-intolerant plants *Note: BOD = Biochemical Oxygen Demand, COD = Chemical Oxygen Demand, TOC = Total Organic Carbon, DO = Dissolved OxygenWaters of the State
The South Carolina Pollution Control Act defines, Waters of the State (WoS), as: lakes, bays, sounds, ponds, impounding reservoirs, springs, wells, rivers, streams, creeks, estuaries, marshes, inlets, canals, the Atlantic Ocean within the territorial limits of the State and all other bodies of surface or underground water, natural or artificial, public or private, inland or coastal, fresh or salt, which are wholly or partially within or bordering the State or within its…, Waters of the State, has, essentially, become the foundation of how and why to implement a set of practices under a site-specific stormwater management plan. Restoration of all state waterways,, WoS, , should be approached with the broader goal of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the natural waters so that they can support "the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water." The quality of, Waters of the State, is essential for supporting human lifestyles and wildlife. Instances may arise, during the construction and/or design phase of a project, in which small impacts on, Waters of the State, are unavoidable. The majority of these instances deal with the impact of Wetland areas. When such occasions arise, Federal and State Governments must grant proper authority. These authorities must approve any impacts that are to be implemented within a, WoS, . Please visit SC DHEC's 401 Water Quality Certification Section if impacts to Waters of the State are proposed before submitting a request for NPDES Stormwater Coverage. This site will provide you with information on the Federal 404 permit and the Section 401 Certification., Wetlands, Although the South Carolina Pollution Control Act's definition of, Waters of the State, does not specifically list wetlands, the Department has a legal opinion, which has been upheld in court, that wetlands are included because of the listing of marshes and all other bodies of water. Water pollution control programs administered by the Department would include activities in wetlands. Proper Wetland determination must be made by licensed professionals and approved by the US Army…, Floodplains, South Carolina's Department of Health and Environmental Control does not regulate the placement of fill and/or fill materials within a floodplain. This approval needs to be granted by local authorities, either county or city engineers.