As Greenville County grows, the demand on our limited water resources grow. Good water resource
management starts with good storm water management. Managing storm water runoff as it comes off
your roof or parking lot in a manner that protects the water quality of our streams and lakes is of
vital importance to the sustainability of our community.
Storm Water runoff in Greenville County affects and is affected by everyone who lives here.
To help protect the water quality of our streams and lakes you can...
- Report non-emergency pollution problems to the Greenville County Soil and Water Division at 864-467-4610.
- Never dump anything down storm drains since they drain to our streams and lakes.
- Wash your car on the lawn instead of the driveway.
- Do not use chemicals on your lawn before rain is expected.
- Use organic lawn and garden fertilizers.
- Make sure air conditioners are in good working order and are not leaking harmful chemicals.
- Do not attempt to block the natural path of water or divert water onto another property.
- Call the Soil and Water Division at 467-2755, ext. 103, and get involved in volunteer projects!
The EPA now considers storm water pollution to be one of the most significant sources of contamination
in our nation's waters. Storm water from developed areas erodes stream banks and smothers streambeds
with sediment. Accumulated chemicals and bacteria flush off the land and into streams. Poor storm water
management can destroy stream life, pollute drinking water, increase flooding and damage property.
Pollution Prevention - A Guide For The Construction Industry
Greenville County believes that reducing pollution is critical to maintaining the
community's quality of life. One of the goals of our Stormwater Program is to ensure
that precious resources such as clean water are never compromised.
We are partnering with the construction industry to help promote Best
Management Practices (BMPs), or methods used on construction sites to keep
pollution out of our storm drains and to protect receiving waters.
By providing you with the tools to create an efficient and environmentally safe
construction site, we hope to make your job easier while keeping our streams clean.
Included in this brochure is valuable information on important BMPs, right-of-way
permitting and Greenvilles inspection and enforcement program. We hope you find it useful.
Together, we have the ability to preserve and improve the quality of life in Greenville.
Brochure (PDF - 12.6MB)
Watersheds in Greenville County, also known as management units, have been prioritized
with respect to their respective water quality problems. A method was developed to prioritize
these management units based on the following:
- Impaired water bodies for which TMDLs have been established
- Waters identified on various EPA water quality lists (303(d), 304, 305(b), 314(a), 319(a), etc.)
- Water bodies showing known signs of impairment, with no TMDLs
- Waters draining urbanized areas
- Drinking water supply sources
- Highly Sensitive Waters
- Management units containing RCRA sites
- Management units containing NPDES permitted facilities and municipalities.
The watershed prioritization will be used to direct the County's efforts and funds in
applying BMPs to address water quality problems.
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What is NPDES?
NPDES stands for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, which is the compliance system for the
Clean Water Act. NPDES requires that all storm water discharges that enter waters of the United States
meet minimum federal water quality requirements.
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What is the ultimate goal of NPDES permitting?
The goal of NPDES permitting is to improve and protect the quality of our nations waterways by eliminating
pollution from storm water runoff to the maximum extent practicable.
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What happens if the County does nothing or refuses to comply with the permit?
Should the county choose not to comply with the permit, penalties for willful non-compliance can reach up
to $25,000 per day each day a separate offense or imprisonment, or both.
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What is the County doing about illegal dumping into the storm drains?
The County has an ordinance in place that addresses illegal dumping and litter. Enforcement of this
ordinance is part of the Countys Phase I permit requirements. Code enforcement officers are authorized
to cite any person or persons caught illegally dumping any material other than rainwater into a storm
drain.
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Do catch basins and storm drains get cleaned out?
Yes, the County cleans catch basins and storm drains as needed.
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Why doesnt the County install filters or screens in front of catch basins?
Installing a filter or screen in front of a catch basin is not a practical solution to curbing the amount
and type of pollution entering the storm sewer system. They are hard (labor-intensive) to maintain and do
little to prevent street flooding.
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How do I report storm water problems (erosion, flooding, dumping) etc.?
Call the Land Development Division at 864-467-4610. They will log your report and
address your complaint.
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What is a catch basin?
A catch basin is a device to collect storm water runoff and is typically connected to a pipe system or
open channel to convey it to a receiving water. A catch basin may be located in the street, on the curb
or in a yard.
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What is a watershed and how do I know which watershed Im located in?
The Saluda-Reedy Watershed is located in the Upstate of South Carolina running from the Blue
Ridge Mountains to the shores of Lake Greenwood. Visit
http://www.saludareedy.org/ for more information.
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What is a storm drain?
A slotted opening leading to an underground pipe or an open ditch form carrying surface runoff.
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What is a storm drain system?
A network of underground pipes and open channels designed for flood control which discharge straight to a
receiving waterbody.
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What is an NPDES permit?
The Clean Water Act prohibits anybody from discharging "pollutants" through a "point source" into a
"water of the United States" unless they have an NPDES permit. The permit contains limits on what you
can discharge, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other provisions to ensure that the discharge
does not hurt water quality or people's health. In essence, the permit translates general requirements of
the Clean Water Act into specific provisions tailored to the operations of each person or entity
(Greenville County) discharging pollutants.
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What is a point source?
The term point source means any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, such as a pipe, ditch,
channel, tunnel, conduit, discrete fissure, or container. It also includes vessels or other floating
craft from which pollutants are or may be discharged. By law, the term "point source" also includes
concentrated animal feeding operations, which are places where animals are confined and fed. By law,
agricultural storm water discharges and return flows from irrigated agriculture are not considered "point
sources".
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What is a water of the United States?
The term "water of the United States" means navigable waters, tributaries to navigable waters, interstate
waters, the oceans out to 200 miles, and intrastate waters which are used by interstate travelers for
recreation or other purposes, as a source of fish or shellfish sold in interstate commerce, or for
industrial purposes by industries engaged in interstate commerce.
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What is a pollutant?
The term includes any type of industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste discharged into water. Some
examples are dredged soil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions,
chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock,
sand, cellar dirt and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste. By law, a pollutant is not sewage or
discharges incidental to the normal operation of an Armed Forces vessel, or water, gas, or other material
injected into an oil and gas production well.
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Is it legal to have wastewater coming out of a pipe into my local receiving water (e.g., lake, stream,
river, wetland)?
It is a permissible activity as long as the wastewater being discharged is covered by and in compliance
with an NPDES permit, and there are enough controls in place to make sure the discharge is safe and that
humans and aquatic life are being protected. To find out if a discharge is covered by a NPDES permit, call
the EPA Regional office or the state office responsible for issuing NPDES permits.
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What are Sanitary Sewer Overflows?
Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) are discharges of raw sewage from municipal sanitary sewer systems. SSOs
can release untreated sewage into basements or out of manholes and onto city streets, playgrounds and
into streams before it can reach a treatment facility. SSOs are often caused by blockages or breaks in
sewer lines. SSOs negatively affect water quality when untreated sewage is discharged into waterbodies.
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Detention ponds are used to safeguard the quality of urban water runoff from roads, parking
lots, residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, and industrial sites. Detention ponds help
to reduce peak stormwater runoff rates by providing temporary storage during storm events.
For detention pond education and maintenance tips, click here.
Single Family Residential Erosion/Sediment Control Standards
This booklet contains standard plans and procedures sufficient for typical
residential building construction; it is not intended to address all
circumstances. All projects that will clear, grade or otherwise disturb
the site must provide erosion and sediment control measures to
prevent the transport of sediment from the site to drainage
facilities, streams, lakes, wetlands, adjacent properties, and streets.
The primary objection is perimeter control with best management
practices (BMP's) being utilized to prevent erosion and minimize
sediment from leaving the site. Additionally, since streets are
conduits for storm water, it is important to keep mud and
sediment off the streets. The building permit holder is
responsible for ensuring that adequate BMP's are in place and
functioning until the construction project is brought to a close.
Booklet (PDF - 8.09MB)
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