S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-113.K

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024

Section 61-113.K - Saltwater Intrusion

1. To protect against or abate saltwater intrusion, the Department shall consider the best available information on the geologic and hydrologic characteristics of the aquifer or aquifers and the groundwater withdrawals of the area, and shall require water users to take such action as the Department deems necessary for its control.

2. Types of control measures the Department may require applicants, permit holders, and groundwater withdrawers to take may include, but not be limited to, the following:

a. Pumping arrangements to reduce groundwater withdrawal in areas of concentrated pumping;

b. Location of wells to eliminate or reduce groundwater withdrawals near zones of saltwater intrusion;

c. Requirement of selective withdrawal from other available freshwater aquifers than those currently used;

d. Selective curtailment or reduction of groundwater withdrawals where it is found to be in the public interest or general welfare or to protect the water resource;

e. Conjunctive use of freshwater or saltwater aquifers, or waters of less desirable quality where water quality of a specific character is not essential;

f. Construction and use of observation or monitor wells, drilled into freshwater aquifers between areas of groundwater withdrawal (or proposed areas of groundwater withdrawal) and sources of saltwater;

g. Construction and use of wells, drilled into areas of intrusion, to intercept saltwater moving towards the center of excessive groundwater withdrawal;

h. Construction and use of wells, drilled into the saltwater aquifer, to relieve hydraulic pressure causing saltwater intrusion in the aquifer;

i. Abandonment of wells, in accordance with Section N, that have penetrated saltwater zones or zones of undesirable water quality and are determined by the Department to be causing contamination of freshwater aquifers;

j. Prohibiting the hydraulic connection of saltwater and freshwater aquifers that could result in deterioration of water quality in a freshwater aquifer(s);

k. Abandonment of wells, not covered under Section K.2.i., in accordance with Section N; and

l. Such other necessary and appropriate control or abatement techniques as are technically feasible and have proven to be successful in other areas.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-113.K