It's All About Clean Water

Part 3 of 3 - Septic Systems

"It's all about Clean Water" is a recurring column exploring issues tied to water quality in our community. The following is the third in a three-part series on septic tank systems and how they impact our environment.

Lessons Learned Create Alternatives to Traditional Septic Systems

Less than 20 minutes north from Mount Pleasant's urban core, more than 2,500 rural East Cooper residents have never known clean water.

In fact, initial studies of the Sewee to Santee community reveal that a dozen residents are relying on pitcher pumps for water and utilize outdoor privies as toilets. It's stunning by today's standards; most people today wouldn't even recognize a pitcher pump or outhouse.

Aside from the sadness and dismay that third-world conditions exist just minutes from our own doorsteps in East Cooper, another pressing issue is the devastating environmental and water quality impact of such conditions. Along with open privies, poorly functioning septic tank systems are contributing to the area's water quality problems. Poor drainage compounds the public health hazard of contaminated sewage standing in yards and ditches.

Water Contamination

In the vast rural areas along U.S. 17 North to the Santee River, there are 800 residences and about 2,500 people who refer to their home as the Sewee to Santee community. This region is not within the boundaries of the Towns of McClellanville or Awendaw. As a result of the Bulls Bay Water Agreement in 1990, this region lies within the water service area of Mount Pleasant Waterworks (MPW).

Initial studies of the region reveal:

• S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has designated the South Santee community as the state's 2nd most needy area relative to drinking water and 38th of the 81 most environmentally distressed communities in our state for sewer needs.
• More than 30-percent of individual wells tested in a recent study show contamination. Some show signs of fecal coliform bacteria which is direct evidence of failing septic systems.
• Residents at a recent public hearing brought gallon jug samples of their household water. It is rust-brown in color and has a sickening sulfur smell.
• There is no fire protection in the region and one resident lost her home to fire just a few weeks ago.

At MPW, we are studying several ways to help residents achieve clean water in their homes. Ultimately, however, federal funding is needed to bring relief.

The U.S. Forest Service and S.C. Coastal Conservation League have both supported MPW's efforts to bring clean water to the region. A thorough public involvement process is needed to find the right solution and this should involve all local residents, Charleston County officials, forest service officials and elected leaders of Mount Pleasant, Awendaw and McClellanville.
Creating Alternatives for Sewee to Santee.

In order to provide clean water to this community, we must also look for new ways to deal with malfunctioning septic tank systems that are polluting ground water sources. But because of this area's rich rural heritage and public sentiment to limit sprawl, a standard wastewater collection and treatment system is not an alternative.

MPW is now discussing a septic tank maintenance and inspection program with the region's homeowners. This type of program involves a public utility maintaining, pumping out and repairing septic systems for a monthly fee. Septic tank management utilities are now being supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency as innovative alternatives to conventional sewerage works. To that end, more than 70-percent of Sewee to Santee homeowners said in a recent survey they would support paying a monthly fee to fund such a service. During a recent meeting on the issue, Jane Lareau of the S.C. Coastal Conservation League referred to the management program idea as "revolutionary" and congratulated MPW for "farsighted thinking."

We greatly appreciate that kind of support. We also understand that such a process must involve all residents and leaders of our region and will take time to build funding sources to deliver pure, clean water to one of the most deserving and needy areas of our state.

(Clay Duffie is General Manger of Mount Pleasant Waterworks and has more than 30 years of experience in water and wastewater management practice. He is a past President of the South Carolina Water Pollution Control Association and the SC Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and has led numerous national seminars on environmental, leadership and utility management issues.)