Surface Water Withdrawal Overview

The Surface Water Quantity Permitting Program was established under Title 49 Chapter 4: South Carolina Surface Water Withdrawal, Permitting Use, and Reporting Act in 2011. The implementing regulation R.61-119 establishes a system and rules for permitting and registering the withdrawal and use of surface water from within the state of South Carolina and those surface waters shared with adjacent states. The permitting, registration, use, and reporting requirements for the regulated surface water withdrawals are specified in this regulation. This regulation applies to any person withdrawing surface water in excess of three million (3,000,000) gallons during any one (1) month.

Surface Water Regulation Stakeholder Work Group

In August of 2021, DHEC published the Notice of Drafting for Regulation 61-119 and formed a workgroup of stakeholders to improve the regulation and management of surface water in SC by maximizing resource availability, promoting sustainability, and serving as a regulatory framework to support basin planning. Meeting materials are located on the Stakeholder Work Group Page.

Surface Water Withdrawal Permitting, Registration and Use

• Annual Water Use Reports
• Interbasin Transfer (IBT) Information
• Laws and Regulations
• Surface Water Withdrawal Forms
• Safe Yield Workgroup

Contact

• SWQuantity@dhec.sc.gov - general contact email
• Hannah Hartley at (803)-898-4318
• Leigh Anne Monroe at (803)-898-2415