The Drinking Water Enforcement Section functions to carry out enforcement actions involving all aspects of public water system compliance, public swimming pool/spa compliance, and well drilling activities compliance. The functions of this section, combined with the efforts of the Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring Section and other sections of this Bureau, the Environmental Affairs Regional Offices, and other areas within DHEC, work together to ensure safe drinking water for the continued health and welfare of the citizens of South Carolina.
Violations
There are various forms of non-compliance which will result in formal violations that require action on the part of a regulated entity. The following are some general violation categories:
- Public Water Systems
- Public Swimming Pools/Spas
- Well Drilling Activities
Public Water Systems
Permitted Activities - Failure to get a Construction Permit prior to beginning construction on a new water system, or an expansion/modification of an existing water system will result in a violation.
Failure to get Operational Approval prior to beginning operation of a new water system, or an expansion/modification of an existing water system will result in a violation.
General Operation/Maintenance - Failure to properly operate and maintain a public water system in accordance with all applicable requirements of the State Primary Drinking Water Regulations will result in violation(s). These deficiencies are normally identified through a DHEC Sanitary Survey Inspection.
Routine Monitoring/Reporting - Failure to conduct all applicable monitoring in accordance with the requirements of the State Primary Drinking Water Regulations will result in violation(s). DHEC currently conducts most all of the required monitoring for South Carolina's public water systems with payment of the SDWA annual fee; however, some parameters (bacteriological, disinfectant residual, and surface water system monthly monitoring) are still required to be conducted by certain systems (community systems (type"C") and non-community, non-transient systems (type"P")).
Failure to report the results of all applicable monitoring in accordance with the specified time frames established in the State Primary Drinking Water Regulations will result in violation(s).
MCL Exceedances - Any exceedance of an MCL established in the State Primary Drinking Water Regulation will result in violation(s).
Lead and/or copper ACTION LEVEL exceedances are NOT violations. These exceedances are, however, triggers for additional monitoring, treatment studies, treatment implementation, etc. which, if not completed within the required time frames, will results in violation(s).
Public Notification - Failure to complete the appropriate public notification requirements for a specified violation of the State Primary Drinking Water Regulations will result in another violation and may also result in DHEC making the public notification for the regulated entity.
Well Drilling Activities
Monitoring Well Approval - Failure to acquire Monitoring Well Approval prior to the installation of a monitoring well (a well designed to obtain water samples for water quality analysis or to measure groundwater levels) will result in violation(s).
Potable and Irrigation Well Approval - Failure to submit a Notice of Intent and obtain a Permit to Construct prior to the installation of either an irrigation well or an individual residential well will result in violation(s).
Well Construction - Failure to construct any water well in accordance with the requirements of the Well Standards and Regulations will result in violation(s).
General Reporting - Failure to submit the DHEC Water Well Record Form (#1903) within the specified time frame after completion of the construction of a water well will result in violation(s).
Unlicensed Activities - Installation of water wells by persons not licensed by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation will result in a violation.
Contacts
- Karen Ramos, (803) 898-4271 - Drinking Water Enforcement Section Manager
- For Complaints, please contact your Local SCDES Regional Office
- E-mail to the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline