Groundwater - Water Use and Reporting Program (Capacity Use)
The Groundwater Use and Reporting Program issues Ground Water Use Permits to all ground water systems located in a designated Capacity Use Area, currently Low Country (Beaufort, Colleton, Jasper counties), Pee Dee (Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, Marboro, Williamsburg counties), Trident (Berkeley,Charleston, and Dorchester) and Waccamaw (Georgetown, Horry counties) designed to withdraw and use groundwater equal to or greater than three million gallons in any month.
Starting January 1, 2001, the intention to install any well that will withdraw 3 million gallons or more of groundwater in any month in the Coastal Plain, but outside of a Capacity Use Area, must be placed on public notice 30 days prior to drilling. Coastal Plain counties currently outside of a Capacity Use Area include all of Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Clarendon, Hampton, Lee, Orangeburg, Sumter and those portions of Chesterfield, Edgefield, Kershaw, Lexington, Richland, and Saluda counties east or southeast of the fall line (as identified on best available geologic maps).
Compliance
- Each permit must comply with the construction, operation, and special conditions as set forth in the Regulations for Groundwater Use in the
Low Country and Waccamaw Capacity Use Areas.
Guidance Document and Reports
Guidance Document
- Capacity Use Program Permitting (PDF - 230 KB) A guide for permitting groundwater withdrawal in designated Capacity Use Areas.
Reports
- A Preliminary Assessment of the Groundwater Conditions in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester Counties, South Carolina (July 2001)
- Fact Sheet - Trident Area Capacity Use Designation (May 2002)
- A Preliminary Assessment of the Groundwater Conditions in Part of the Pee Dee Region, South Carolina (August 2003)
- Fact Sheet - Pee Dee Region Capacity Use Designation (August 2003)
- An Assessment Of Groundwater Conditions In Hampton County For Capacity Use Designation (June 2007)
- Fact Sheet - Hampton County Capacity Use Designation (July 2007)
Water Use Reports
- Evaluation of the Downward Migration of Saltwater to the Upper Floridan Aquifer in the Savannah, Georgia, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, areas
- South Carolina Water Use Report 1999 and 2000 Summary Data Compilation (June 2002) (PDF)
- South Carolina Water Use Report 2001 Summary (PDF)
- South Carolina Water Use Report 2002 Summary (PDF)
- South Carolina Water Use Report 2003 Summary (PDF)
- South Carolina Water Use Report 2004 Summary (PDF)
- South Carolina Water Use Report 2005 Summary (PDF)
- South Carolina Water Use Report 2006 Summary (PDF)
Capacity Use Designations
Law(s)
- South Carolina Surface Water Withdrawal and Reporting Act (Chapter 4 of Title 49, Section 49-4-10 et. seq.of the 1976 Code as amended)
- The Groundwater Use And Reporting Act (Chapter 5 of Title 49, Section 49-5-10 et. seq.of the 1976 Code as amended)
Regulations
- Regulations for Groundwater Use
For copies of regulations contact Paul Bristol at (803) 898-3559.
Permitting
- Groundwater Withdrawal Permit Application and Directions (PDF-191 KB)
- Groundwater Withdrawal Renewal Permit Application and Directions (PDF-193 KB)
- Notice Of Intent (NOI) and Directions (PDF-125 KB)
- Water Use Registration (PDF-86 KB)
Maps
Capacity Use Areas
Contact
- Paul Bristol, Permit Coordinator at (803) 898-3559.
Bureau of Water . Phone: (803) 898-4300 . Fax: (803) 898-4215 . Contact Us