Water runoff puts the public at risk
- Charles Reams
- Jul 13
- 5 min read
South Carolina has a significant number of waterways deemed “impaired” because of pollution, punctuating the magnitude of the menace, according to Carolina Clear, Clemson University's river purity program.
In Upstate South Carolina, common to developed areas, stormwater runoff is considered one of the most significant sources of contamination in waterways, impacting the purity of rivers.
According to the Greenville City website, stormwater flows over developed areas like streets, driveways, and parking lots and picks up various pollutants, including oil and grease from vehicles, pesticides and fertilizers from lawns, sediment from construction sites, and trash. These pollutants are then carried into rivers, the city said in a statement on its website.
What are the consequences of this polluted water runoff?
It destroys aquatic habitats, changes naturally hydrology so that roads and buildings prevent rainwater from soaking into the ground.
That is exactly why, in March 2025, a $40 million replacement of the Lake Conestee Dam commenced.
A recent study identified the Pocotaligo River in South Carolina as having the highest levels of PHAS in the nation, according to www.ehn.org. The statement added that this high level of pollution is due to the industrial discharges and the outdated wastewater treatment plant.
Closer to home, the Lake Conestee Dam has aging infrastructure, and sediment has resulted in millions of tons of sediment with heavy metals and pesticides from former textile mills and other industries, said www.masc.sc in a statement.
The statement added that, beyond stormwater, agricultural runoff, animal waste, failing septic systems, and illegal dumping aggravated water quality problems.
In summary, while several factors threaten the purity of rivers in Upstate SC, stormwater runoff is considered a significant and widespread menace due to its pollutant-carrying capacity and impact on aquatic ecosystems.
The increase in storm frequency and intensity does not bode well for the future of the Upstate without costly updates to the infrastructure.
Other causes of river pollution
Several lawsuits have been filed in Upstate South Carolina concerning river pollution, primarily focusing on the Clean Water Act and the discharge of harmful pollutants. These cases involve allegations of illegal discharges of chemicals like PFAS and petroleum products, as well as concerns about excessive water withdrawals impacting river flows.
What is the documentation that urgent action is needed if we’re not to become statistics like case studies?
Key Cases and Concerns:
Kinder Morgan Case:
.
Upstate Forever and Savannah Riverkeeper sued Kinder Morgan for petroleum pollution in a creek, citing Clean Water Act violations. The case reached the Supreme Court, which focused on whether the Clean Water Act applies to contamination not directly discharged through a pipe.
Shaw Industries Case:
.
Congaree Riverkeeper, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), sued Shaw Industries for discharging PFAS "forever chemicals" into the Lower Saluda River. The lawsuit alleges Shaw's unlined wastewater lagoons are leaking PFAS into the groundwater and river.
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) also sued the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (DES) over rules that allow major agricultural corporations to withdraw excessive amounts of water from rivers and streams. The lawsuit argues that these rules violate the Surface Water Withdrawal Act by failing to protect river flows for various uses.
Santee Cooper Case:
.
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed a suit against Santee Cooper's Grainger facility in Conway for arsenic contamination of the Waccamaw River and groundwater.
General Context:
South Carolina has a significant number of waterways considered "impaired" due to pollution, highlighting the widespread nature of these issues, according to Carolina Clear.
Lawsuits often aim to enforce the Clean Water Act, stop illegal discharges, and ensure proper treatment of wastewater.
Organizations like Upstate Forever and the Congaree Riverkeeper, often working with the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), are actively involved in these legal battles to protect South Carolina's rivers.
Riverkeeper Sues Shaw Industries Over PFAS Pollution July 2, 2024 — Shaw Industries' PFAS discharges threaten rivers and drinking water sources. Congaree Riverkeeper, represented by the S...
Landmark Supreme Court decision impacts Upstate pollution ...Apr 24, 2020 — After state enforcement efforts failed to stop the flow of petroleum into the creek, the Southern Environmental Law Ce...
Groups sue DES over illegal rules for major water withdrawals July 15, 2024 — Loophole allows removal of all water from rivers. CHARLESTON, S.C. — Today, the Southern Environmental Law Center file...
Southern Environmental Law Center
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Groups sue DES over illegal rules for major water ...
Southern Environmental Law Center
https://www.selc.org › press-release › groups-sue-des-ov...
July 15, 2024 — Groups sue DES over illegal rules for major water withdrawals. Loophole allows removal of all water from rivers. CHARLESTON, S.C. — Today, the ...
US Supreme Court declines to hear Upstate SC river pollution ...
South Carolina Environmental Law Project
https://www.scelp.org › news › us-supreme-court-declin...
The Supreme Court denied writ of certiorari to Arabella Farm, which had the support of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), ...
Attorney General Alan Wilson sues over toxic "forever ...
South Carolina Attorney General (.gov)
https://www.scag.gov › about-the-office › news › attorne...
Aug 7, 2023 — Attorney General Alan Wilson today filed suit against several companies, including 3M and DuPont, to hold them accountable for knowingly contaminating South ...
Environmentalists sue SC industry over chemical releases
The State
https://www.thestate.com › local › article289685194
July 2, 2024 — Environmentalists sued the Shaw Industries company Tuesday, arguing that forever chemical pollution is still occurring and should be stopped by a federal court.
Riverkeeper Sues Shaw Industries Over PFAS Pollution
Congaree Riverkeeper
https://www.congareeriverkeeper.org › riverkeeper-sues...
July 2, 2024 — The case alleges that Shaw is discharging PFAS into the river without a permit as required by the federal Clean Water Act, and that PFAS and ...
Landmark Supreme Court decision impacts ...
Upstate Forever
https://www.upstateforever.org › news › landmark-supr...
Apr 24, 2020 — Ruling on Clean Water Act supports Upstate Forever's case against Kinder Morgan for 2014 diesel spill in Belton.
Woodruff-Roebuck water utility sues over ...
Post and Courier
https://www.postandcourier.com › spartanburg › news
Sep 19, 2024 — The Woodruff-Roebuck Water District has sued 14 companies it claims have contaminated its source water with dangerous “forever chemicals”.
Apr 14, 2025 — Residents of Denmark, SC, represented by Bakari Sellers receive $1 million settlement in class-action lawsuit over unauthorized chemical in ...
July 15, 2024 — Holleman says the lawsuit seeks to require the new environmental agency to obey the law and reject what regulations SCDHEC has in place that ...
US Supreme Court declines to hear Upstate SC river
May 31, 2023 — In win for environmental groups, pollution case against Pickens County event venue will now be argued in Greenville.
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