Program Description |
In 1991 the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) implemented the Watershed Water Quality Management Strategy
in order to more efficiently protect and improve the quality of South Carolina's
surface water resources. This management strategy recognizes the interdependence
of water quality and all the activities that occur in the associated drainage
basin. Under the watershed management approach monitoring, assessment,
problem identification and prioritization, water quality modeling, planning,
permitting and other SCDHEC initiatives are coordinated by basin. A watershed
water quality assessment document is produced for each basin.
In order to implement this program, South Carolina has been divided
into eight major drainage basins
: the Savannah, Salkehatchie, Saluda, Edisto, Catawba, Santee, Pee Dee, and Broad.
Below is a schedule of SCDHEC activities occurring in each basin.
Watershed Program's Five-year Rotating Basin Schedule
(*Federal Fiscal Year, October-September)
DESCRIPTION OF SCDHEC BASIN ACTIVITIES
Water Quality
Monitoring.
In addition to annual monitoring duties
in all basins, each year SCDHEC scientists collect additional water chemistry
and biological information for one or two of the eight basins. Analyses of these
data reveal problem areas and long term water quality trends.
Reporting: Development of Watershed Water Quality Assessment
(WWQA) Document.
After monitoring is completed, SCDHEC analyzes the data. Significant trends in water quality and support of waterbody uses are identified. This information is included in the
WWQA. Other information incorporated into the document includes:
- Water chemistry information
- Biological monitoring information
- Physical characteristics
- Natural resources
- Growth potential
- Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control efforts
- Water quality improvement activities
- Point source dischargers
Wasteload Allocation, Workshops.
Watershed modelers develop wasteload allocations for the waterbodies in a particular basin during this year. The objective is to determine the portion of a stream's assimilative capacity for a specific pollutant that can be allocated to existing or proposed point source discharges. Public workshops are also held for the basin during this year. These workshops provide an opportunity for SCDHEC to educate stakeholders about water quality in their area and for the public to give input.
Permitting.
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permits for all point source discharges are reviewed and issued by SCDHEC
for a particular basin according to the five year cycle. This allows SCDHEC
to assess the impact of all discharges in a basin during one year and enables
the agency to efficiently determine appropriate discharge permit limits. The wasteload allocations developed in the previous year are utilized in the permit development.
Remediation.
Remediation is actually an ongoing process. It occurs throughout the entire five year basin cycle. SCDHEC is continually trying to fix water quality problems in our watersheds. Types of remediation activities include outreach and education activities, development and implementation of
TMDLs, and coordination with other stakeholders on NPS pollution problems. SCDHEC's outreach and education staff and watershed managers are heavily involved in these types of remediation activities.
HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE...
The success of the watershed program depends on cooperation among local and regional governments, lake and river associations, industry representatives, concerned groups and individuals, and SCDHEC to exchange information and develop management strategies to protect and promote the wise use of South Carolina's surface and ground water resources. SCDHEC's watershed managers are available to promote interaction and facilitate communication with all parties. Such a coordinated approach will more effectively identify, solve and prevent water quality problems.
Bureau of Water . Phone: (803) 898-4300 . Fax: (803) 898-4215 . Contact Us