Water

Surface Water Monitoring Program

Common Water Quality Indicators (PDF-21.76 KB)

Accessing DHEC Water Quality Data From STORET

The biological, water quality and shellfish monitoring program are accomplished by the Aquatic Biology Section (ABS), the Water Quality Monitoring Section (WQMS) and the Shellfish Sanitation Section (SSS), respectively.

Within the WQMS, two of the major programs are the Ambient Surface Water Monitoring and Aquatic Toxicology Programs. The Ambient Surface Water Monitoring Program coordinates a network of monitoring stations located across the State of South Carolina. In addition to physical parameters measured at each station, surface water and sediment samples are collected and analyzed for chemical specific parameters on a periodic basis. The Aquatic Toxicology Program is responsible for monitoring facility compliance with acute and chronic toxicity limits. Test methods are those promulgated in chapter 40, part 136 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

In addition to the Ambient Surface Water Monitoring and Aquatic Toxicology programs, the Section provides technical support within the Department, Quality Assurance (QA) training for Central Office and district personnel, and conducts special studies specific to water quality. Enabling authority for activities conducted by the Section are granted by the Pollution Control Act (48-1-50) and through the Department's implementation of Water Classifications and Standards (R.61-68) and Water Pollution Control Permits (R.61-9). For general information regarding the activities of the Section, contact David Graves, 898-4398.

Ambient Surface Water Monitoring

Monitoring Stations Location Map (PDF-2.02 MB)

In an effort to evaluate the State's water quality, the SCDHEC collects data from a Statewide network of primary and secondary ambient monitoring stations and flexible, rotating watershed monitoring stations. The ambient monitoring network (PDF-2.02 MB) is directed toward determining long-term water quality trends, assessing attainment of water quality standards (R.61-68), identifying locations in need of additional attention, and providing background data for planning and evaluating stream classifications (R.61-69) and standards (R.61-68). For more information see the State of South Carolina Monitoring Strategy (PDF-4.86MB), Watershed Management Program and Common Water Quality Indicators (PDF-21.76 KB).

Ambient monitoring data are also used in the process of formulating permit limits for wastewater discharges with the goal of maintaining State and Federal water quality standards and criteria in the receiving streams in accordance with the goals of the Clean Water Act. These standards and criteria define the instream chemical concentrations that provide for protection and reproduction of aquatic flora and fauna, help determine support of the classified uses of each waterbody, and serve as instream limits for the regulation of wastewater discharges or other activities.

Section 106 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act or CWA) provides for federal funding to States to administer programs, “ for the prevention, reduction, and elimination of pollution, including enforcement directly or through appropriate State law enforcement officers or agencies.” This includes, and in fact requires, monitoring for the purposes of developing the report to Congress required under §305(b) of the CWA. The 305b Report - State of South Carolina Integrated Report Part II: Assessment and Reporting (PDF-1413.49 KB) summarizes the State's water quality with respect to attainment of classified uses by comparing the ambient monitoring network data to the State Water Quality Standards (R.61-68) . These data are also used in the preparation of the §303(d) List - State of South Carolina Integrated Reprot Part I : Listing of Impaired Waters (PDF-120.00 KB) of impaired waters, also required by the CWA. The Ambient Surface Water Monitoring data are stored in the USEPA STORET database and can be downloaded using the Instructions for Downloading SCDHEC Water Quality Data from STORET. For further information regarding Ambient Surface Water Monitoring, or water quality monitoring data, contact David Chestnut at (803) 898-4066.

The South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program (SCECAP)

In 1999, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) initiated a major new collaborative coastal monitoring program entitled the “South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program” (SCECAP). The goal of SCECAP is to monitor the condition of the state’s estuarine habitats and associated biological resources on an annual basis. This program significantly expands ongoing monitoring efforts by each agency and draws upon the expertise of both in a cooperative effort. SCECAP integrates measures of water quality, sediment quality and biological condition at a large number of sites throughout the state’s coastal zone. It also expands historical monitoring activities that have primarily focused on open water habitats (e.g. bays, sounds, tidal rivers) to include an assessment of conditions in tidal creeks, which serve as important nursery habitat for most of the state’s economically valuable species. Many of these tidal creeks are also the first point of entry for non-point source runoff from upland areas and therefore provide an early indication of anthropogenic stress. For more information and SCECAP reports, visit the SCECAP website at http://water.dnr.state.sc.us/marine/scecap or contact David Chestnut at (803) 898-4066.

Aquatic Toxicology

Toxicity testing is a method for testing wastewater for effects on aquatic animals. The animals used in toxicity tests are cultured and reared in a laboratory, and are generally more sensitive to pollution than most other animals. Toxicity tests are typically conducted on industrial and municipal/domestic effluents to test compliance with toxicity limits, but are sometimes performed on surface waters (streams, rivers and lakes) that receive effluent dicharges.

Toxicity tests as described in methods promulgated in chapter 40, part 136 of the Code of Federal Regulations, consist of dividing the test animals into two or more groups, a control group and one or more test groups. For the duration of a test, the control group is reared in laboratory culture water, and the test group is reared in the effluent concentration (or surface water) being tested. One or more biological functions, usually survival, reproduction or growth, are measured during the test, the pH and dissolved oxygen of the control and test water are measured for the purpose of quality control. Depending on the type of test and species being tested, it can take from two to ten days to complete. Because there is a considerable difference between the lifespan, reproduction and growth between any two individuals, statistical methods are used to determine whether the test provides evidence that survival, reproduction or growth of test animals was lower than that of control animals. If the results provide such evidence, the wastewater is presumed to be toxic at the concentration tested, or at some predicted concentration. Effluent toxicity does not necessarily mean that any actual environmental damage (reduced health and numbers of plants and animals) has occurred or will occur at concentrations found instream. However, it predicts that environmental damage may occur at the tested or predicted concentration, and that further investigation, improved treatment and more frequent monitoring may be needed.

Toxicity testing at DHEC is funded in part by a grant from EPA under section 106 of the Clean Water Act. A condition of this grant is that each year, DHEC will perform toxicity tests on 10% of dischargers that are required to perform toxicity tests as part of the self-monitoring requirements of their discharge permit. Toxicity limits are derived according to R.61-9, using guidance provided in the State's Toxics Control Strategy, and data are analyzed using guidance provided in the State's Options for Data Analysis of Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing Required by NPDES Permits. For further information regarding Aquatic Toxicology, or data analysis, contact Vernon Beaty, at (803) 898-4100.