Comprehensive Overview of Water Quality in South Carolina

South Carolina has a wide variety of water resources and this provides vital importance in the economy, ecology and the quality of life of South Carolina. The state has a large freshwater and coastal systems composed of over 47,000 miles of rivers and streams, more than 2,000 lakes and ponds, and another extensive coastline that cuts across the Atlantic Ocean, which has its various uses. These are provision of drinking water, agricultural support, recreation, wildlife habitat maintenance and industry facillitation.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) provides water quality monitoring and evaluations in the state of South Carolina in different programs. It also compiles annual reports on water quality, and the Integrated Report to Congress that gives a complete health check of the states waters. These reports are crucial towards monitoring trends, raising concerns and to meet the standards of water quality set-up by the Clean Water Act.

South Carolina in recent years has taken great strides towards bettering the quality of its water but work is yet to be done. High rates of urbanization, farming and industrial effluences have exerted a lot of stress on the water available locally. Lots of rivers, lakes and coastal waters are still contaminated by numerous pollutants, including nutrients, bacteria and other emerging substances like PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). In general, although most water in the state complies with or is above safety requirements, there are regions exposed to high risks of endangering human lives and a loss of ecosystems.

South Carolina Water Quality Challenges

1. Nutrient Pollution

A significant problem of water quality in South Carolina is nutrient pollution, especially by nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients are frequently the products of run off in agriculture, waste water products and storm water in the cities. An overload of nutrients in water may cause undesired vegetation growth (harmful algal blooms), abiotic stress, and fish kill, causing dead zones, where aquatic life is not able to live. Estuaries and particularly in the Lowcountry region such as the Charleston harbor and the Winyah Bay are highly vulnerable to nutrient pollution.

The 303(d) List of Impaired Waters prepared by the SCDHEC outlines many water bodies that have already been affected by nutrient enrichment, which has a potential to impair the water quality and consequently diminish biodiversity and adversely impact economic activities, which rely on clear water. The state has responded to this through the implementation of programs to combat the nutrient loading such as promoting the use of the best management practices to agriculture as well as upgrading of wastewater treatment facilities.

2. PFAS Contamination

PFAS are a collection of man-made chemicals that are applied in several industrial and consumer goods and have become an increasing issue in South Carolina. Such compounds are very stable both in nature and the human body causing them to be referred to as aforementioned chemicals. PFAS have been associated with a number of health problems, some of these are cancer, liver damages, and developmental issues.

PFAS contamination in drinking water sources has been evidenced in South Carolina especially where the source of water is proximate to industrial sites and military bases. Importantly, in the area of former Navy base in Charleston, the presence of contamination is detected. State authorities are endeavoring to evaluate the scope of PFAS contamination, increase surveillance of such chemicals, and minimise the exposure risks by offering alternative water sources as well as guidelines on how to filter the chemicals contained in the drinking water. South Carolina became one of the states that had action plans to handle PFAS regulation and avoid additional contamination in 2020.

3. Stormwater Runoff

Water pollution in urbanized and suburban regions of South Carolina is partly caused by stormwater runoff. Impervious surfaces such as buildings, parking lots and roads prevent rain water to soak in the ground as cities and towns expand. Instead, it directly goes to storm drains and eventually reaches local rivers, lakes, and coastal waters with all dirt and pollutants on board (including oils, fertilizers, pesticides, and trash).

An example to be given is the area of Charleston where rainfall is constant, and the drainage systems inadequate; hence, there is a great deal of stormwater pollution when a storm is heavy or when there is a hurricane. The runoff may be a cause of poor quality of water, the degradation of aquatic life, and a health threat to populations. To resolve these problems, the state has instituted stormwater management programs consisting of incentive programs similar to green infrastructure (i.e., rain gardens, permeable pavements), which will aid in the absorption of stormwater and the minimizing of the stormwater chemicals flow.

4. Sedimentation and Erosion

Another burning issue in South Carolina is sediment pollution in water bodies that is most of the time as a result of construction, urban development, and landworks circumstances such as mining and clearing of forests. Erosion causes too much sediment to flow in to rivers, channel and reservoirs, bottle-necking aquatic life, decreasing the visibility of water, and impairing the fish population due to suffocation. Other pollutants traversing along with sediment are also nutrients and heavy metals and to an increased degree this contributes to the poor water condition.

Practices aimed at reducing sedimentation are through applications of erosion control measures by the developers, i.e. using silt fences, sediment basins and re-plantation of the disturbed ground. The South Carolina buildings regulations ensure that construction sites implement and maintain effective erosion control strategies in order to reduce runoff when developing the projects.

5. Pathogen Contamination

Different risks to the water in South Carolina are pathogen contamination through human waste, animal waste, and faulty septic systems. Waters affected by such sources are also likely to have a lot of bacteria such as E. coli, especially after a rainstorm. The pathogens may render recreational waters unhealthy to recreational activities such as swimming, fishing and boating and also risk the drinking water reservoir in a case where the pathogens are not properly addressed.

The beaches and rivers in the state are regularly checked in reference to bacteria contamination; advisories are distributed when the number of bacteria exceeds the acceptable boundaries. The rural areas with old septic systems in South Carolina remain the most susceptible region to the pollution caused by pathogens. SCDHEC is also working on enhancing wastewater facilities and maintaining responsible practices related to septic systems, in order to thwart the issue.

State and Local Efforts to Improve Water Quality

1. Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)

South Carolina is a part of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), the federal program that gives low-interest loans to projects on water infrastructure, such as waste water treatment, storm water control, and nonpoint pollution source controls. Using CWSRF, the state has provided support to many projects meant to increase water quality in different areas such as replacing outdated sewer systems, decreasing pollution of nutrients, and improving infrastructure used to control stormwaters.

2. Strategies on Nutrient Management

In a bid to address nutrient pollution, South Carolina has come up with comprehensive nutrient management plans to most of its watersheds. The strategies involve minimizing the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that get into the water as farm run offs, storm surpasses and spills. The SCDHEC partners with the farmers, local governments and the private sector in order to execute these strategies and use best management practices (BMPs) such as riparian buffers, cover crops, and controlled application of fertilizers.

3. PFAS Action Plan

Due to the rising PFAS crisis, South Carolina has already started a number of moves meant to track, control, and lower PFAS contamination. This involves increasing water quality testing and monitoring programs to check against these chemicals, creating regulatory systems to reduce its levels in drinking water, and adoption of clean-up procedures in case of water contamination. The state officials are collaborating with the local governments and the federal agencies to find the origin of the PFAS, inform the people on danger, and provide guidelines on how to reduce exposure.

4. Watershed Restoration Initiatives

The restoration of the watershed projects is important towards restoration of the health of the waterways in South Carolina. State agencies, environmental organizations, and local governments participate in the creation of the projects aimed at wetlands restoration, stabilisation of stream banks, riparian corridor enhancement, and the mitigation of pollution, the increase of biodiversity, and guarding of elevated water resources. Among those is the restoration of the floodplain wetlands in the Congaree River Basin, projects in producing the restored riparian buffers in the Upstate.

5. Engagement and Education of the Public

The issue of community participation is a major element in the water quality management in South Carolina. South Carolina Water Watch and other similar citizen programs are involved in water quality monitoring, education and advocacy by the citizens. Activists statewide record information on water quality, educate their neighbors about local water quality problems and participate in water quality policy matters. The state wants to establish the culture of water stewardship and environment care by involving residents and allowing them to be active participants.

Impact of Climate Change on Water Quality

Climate change is anticipated to have a significant impact on South Carolina’s water quality, exacerbating existing challenges and introducing new ones. Rising temperatures, increased flooding, and shifting precipitation patterns will all affect water resources in the state.

1. Increased Flooding and Storm Events

Climate change is already happening, and South Carolina is already having increasingly severe storms and flooding incidents. Such extreme weather conditions overrun the wastewater treatment systems, including spreading the disease-causing pathogen and escalating the amount of stormwater runoff, which also releases pollutants into water bodies. Serious floods such as those which happened to Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Dorian have worsened the situation in the water purity, such as the spillage of pollutants at industrial facilities, agricultural runoff, and the failure of the sewage systems.

2. Rise of the Sea Level and Saltwater Intrusion

Freshwater in the state, particularly in view of saltwater intrusion is another form of threat posed by the rising sea levels on the South Carolinian coast. The effective supplies of drinking water might get mixed with salt making it undrinkable as the Atlantic Ocean is ‘invading’ coastal aquifers. It is of special interest in this issue as the coastal areas such as the Lowcountry and the Sea Islands depend on the use of groundwater as a source of drinking water and irrigating crops.

3. Temperature Increases

An increase in water temperatures may allow the development of toxic algal growths that can deprive water of its oxygen supply and result in hostile conditions to aquatic life. At the same time, climbing temperatures could also change the timing of the seasonal migration of fish, which will hurt the aquatic ecosystems.

4. Drought Conditions

Extended periods of drought can reduce the flow of rivers and streams, concentrating pollutants and lowering water quality. In extreme drought conditions, communities may face water shortages and stress on agricultural and industrial operations that depend on water resources. Climate adaptation strategies, including the construction of reservoirs and improved water management systems, are being implemented to address these challenges.