State of South Carolina Integrated Report for 2016 Part II: Section 305(b) Assessment and Reporting PREFACE The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) prepared this report as a requirement of Section 305(b) of Public Law 100-4, last reauthorized and commonly known as The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1987, and as a public information document. The report presents a general assessment of water quality conditions and water pollution control programs in South Carolina. SCDHEC has published Watershed Water Quality Assessments (WWQA), which contain information pertaining to the specific watersheds and give a more complete picture of the waters referenced in this document. While the title page states that this is an integrated report, Section 303(d) of the CWA requirements are submitted separately as a companion document. The determinations of surface water quality were based on data collected by SCDHEC at ambient water quality monitoring stations, point source permit required monitoring, and evaluation of nonpoint source (NPS) data. Other information in this report was obtained from SCDHEC programs associated with water quality monitoring and water pollution control. i TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................... I TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................ II LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... IV EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 5 BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................... 6 Water Pollution Control Program .............................................................................................. 6 B. Water Quality Standards and Classifications .......................................................................... 7 1. Surface Water Classes – Freshwaters .................................................................................8 2. Surface Water Classes – Saltwater .....................................................................................8 3. Groundwater Classes ..........................................................................................................9 4. Reclassifications and Site-Specific Criteria .......................................................................9 C. Point Source Program – Domestic Facilities ........................................................................ 10 1. Loan Program ...................................................................................................................10 2. Pretreatment and Toxicity Program ..................................................................................10 3. Stormwater Controls .........................................................................................................11 4. Land Application of Treated Wastewater .........................................................................11 5. Strategies to Improve the Domestic Permitting Program .................................................11 D. Point Source Program - Industrial and Agricultural Facilities ............................................. 12 1. Industrial Facilities ...........................................................................................................12 2. Agricultural Facilities .......................................................................................................12 3. Toxics Controls.................................................................................................................13 4. Land Application of Treated Wastewater .........................................................................13 5. Stormwater Permits- Industrial .........................................................................................13 6. Stormwater Permits -Construction ...................................................................................13 7. Stormwater Permits- MS4 ................................................................................................14 E. Permit Compliance and Enforcement ................................................................................... 14 F. Nonpoint Source Program ..................................................................................................... 15 SURFACE WATER ASSESSMENTS ...................................................................................... 18 1. Surface Water Monitoring Program .................................................................................... 18 A. Purpose and Design .............................................................................................................. 18 B. Networks and Programs ........................................................................................................ 18 C. Laboratory Analytical Support ............................................................................................. 19 D. Quality Assurance ................................................................................................................. 19 E. Data Storage, Management and Interpretation ...................................................................... 22 2. Assessment Methodology....................................................................................................... 22 A. Statistical Survey §305(b) Assessment Approach ................................................................ 22 ii 1. Rivers and Streams ...........................................................................................................23 2. Lakes and Reservoirs ........................................................................................................23 3. Estuaries............................................................................................................................24 B. Determination of Attainment of Classified Uses .................................................................. 24 1. General Considerations .....................................................................................................24 2. Aquatic Life Use Support .................................................................................................25 3. Macroinvertebrate Data Interpretation .............................................................................27 4. Recreational Use Support .................................................................................................27 Freshwater: .......................................................................................................................... 27 Tidal Saltwater: ................................................................................................................... 28 3. Rivers and Streams Water Quality Assessment .................................................................. 29 A. Summary Statistics ............................................................................................................... 29 4. Lakes Water Quality Assessment ......................................................................................... 30 A. Summary Statistics ............................................................................................................... 30 B. Section 314 Reporting........................................................................................................... 32 1. Background .......................................................................................................................32 2. Trophic Status ...................................................................................................................32 5. Estuary and Coastal Assessment .......................................................................................... 38 A. Summary Statistics ............................................................................................................... 38 6. Wetlands Assessment ............................................................................................................. 39 A. Extent of Wetland Resources ............................................................................................... 39 B. Integrity of Wetlands Resources ........................................................................................... 39 1. Section 404 Permit Program .............................................................................................39 2. Section 401 Water Quality Certification ..........................................................................40 C. Development of Water Quality Standards for Wetlands ...................................................... 41 D. Additional Protection Activities ........................................................................................... 41 7. Public Health Concerns ......................................................................................................... 42 A. Public Health Impacts ........................................................................................................... 42 1. Pollution Caused Fish Kills/Abnormalities ......................................................................42 2. Fish Consumption Advisories