A comprehensive survey, location map, and description of all pumpout facilities and services was completed in April-May 1993, and updated February-March 1994, as a component of this plan. This survey included all marinas in the eight county coastal zone, which is made up of Horry, Georgetown, Charleston, Berkeley, Colleton, Beaufort, Dorchester, and Jasper counties.

The survey was initially completed at State expense to allow OCRM to proceed as quickly as possible with plan development and initial construction in previously documented problem areas (City of Charleston and City of Beaufort). Protection and enhancement of water quality and shellfish resources is the primary objective of this plan, followed closely by the educational components.

OCRM utilized this survey and information about recreational boat-user patterns, shellfish harvesting water classifications supplied by DHEC., and shellfish harvesting grounds as delineated by the SC DNR., to identify priority areas. These priority areas either lack pumpout facilities or have too few available facilities to serve the current and predicted future demand, or are in water areas that are suitable for shellfish harvesting, either from a water classification standpoint, or proximity to a shellfish culture permit area, a state shellfish ground, or a grant area. Recommendations have been made for both pumpout facilities and dump stations, or holding tanks. All pumpout facilities would be located at both public and private marinas under the terms of a contractual agreement to assure continued use, availability and maintenance of the facilities over the manufacturer's design life of the equipment.

Documents

A Pumpout boat at Bristol Marina helps protect water quality.