Darlington County, DHEC address Black Creek contamination

This afternoon, the Darlington County Planning Commission will host an informational meeting by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on the agency’s pollution findings of Black Creek and to file a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report.

The TMDL is a result of the creek’s heightened levels of fecal coliform, a bacteria associated with sewage and animal waste, in several sections of the creek, according to DHEC. Heightened fecal coliform levels have been documented in several DHEC reports in multiple sections of the creek since 2000. After a 30-day comment period to DHEC, the TMDL filing will be formalized through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Black Creek is a critical asset to people and businesses in multiple Pee Dee counties and flows directly into the Great Pee Dee River. Black Creek has been on the 303(d) list of impaired bodies of water, which stipulates that if clean water levels are not reached, under the Clean Water Act, a TMDL must be developed and approved to combat the problem.

“TMDL is the mechanism to make everybody aware and put everyone on alert,” Darlington CountyPlanning Director Doug Reimold said. “I wouldn’t say we’re in an emergency situation right now.”

But Reimold and other community members are ready to start moving forward before it becomes an emergency.

“For business and industry, it’s critical. And for drinking water it’s critical,” said Jay James, treasurer and secretary of the Black Creek Land Trust, a conservation group for Black Creek and lifelong resident of Darlington.

James, who has land with conservation easements that border the creek, said he remembers back before the Clean Water Act of 1972 when several companies would dump industrial waste as well as farm runoff into the creek. “The creek is in much better shape than it was back then,” he said.

The high levels of fecal coliform measured in the 1970s dropped substantially thanks to the Clean Water Act, but the levels still jump at times, according to a report written by Dr. Dara Park of Clemson University and Dr. John Ludlam of Francis Marion University and sponsored by the Black Creek Land Trust. The report also mentions the creek’s lower water levels, which can cause higher contaminant concentration levels. “The solution to pollution is dilution,” James said, using an old phrase.

But because of droughts, property development around the creek and water withdrawals, the water level has been consistently lower, which also affects the ecosystems that rely on the water.

The presence of the bacteria, which can sicken people who swim or come in contact with contaminated creek water, is believed to be the result of both point source runoff, such as leaks from a wastewater treatment plant into the creek, and non-point source discharges, such as leaky septic tanks, runoff from roads, farms and other surfaces.

The TMDL hopes to identify where discharges occur and remedy the problems. But those sources are difficult to pinpoint. “We don’t even know we’re doing this sometimes. The practices we use every day can cause this (contamination),” Reimold said.

Reimold said he looks forward to collaborating with several people and community groups to work on a plan, per the TMDL, to help lower contaminant levels in the creek as well as apply for available grant money to aid the effort.

“It’s very much a treasure,” Reimold said. “Its one that we want to protect and have a good clean reputation.”

The meeting is from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the magistrate’s courtroom at the Courthouse Annex/EMS Building, 1625 Harry Byrd Highway, Darlington.