Still making my way through the messages from last week, I run across this one from Mayor Bob that relates to my previous post about the Saluda Latrine, I mean, River:
Based on the news reports of the last day about the sewer spill in Saluda River, I think it may be time to call for a Saluda, Broad, and Congaree Rivers Summit. I know that there are a lot of environmental groups, DHEC and other governments working to reduce discharges into the rivers. City Council approved a partnership with DHEC earlier this month on July 9th to address the high levels of fecal coliform in the Congaree River. We met with David Wilson, Water Bureau Chief; David Baize, and Charles Gorman of DHEC on July 1st to get a game plan. The causes of the high level of bacteria include run-off, septic tank leakage, sewer spills and pet waste. City staff has or will shortly send a letter to DHEC requesting a partnership with DHEC for the Total Maximum Daily Loading Plan for the Congaree River.
I think the spill this week caused by a malfunction with Alpine Utilities is a good reason for the City to ask everyone working on this issue to brief City Council on what we are doing and how the City can help. I know there is a plan that DHEC is working on as well as The Lower Saluda River Corridor Plan. I would ask staff to set this meeting up as soon as practical. I will ask Julie to coordinate with the City Manager and John Dooley. Also, I have asked former Commissioner Doug Bryant for his advice and am copying him.
Obviously, with the recreational and residential boom along the rivers, sewer and bacteria warnings and accidents can be devastating to our efforts as well as the environment. Just for background, I am attaching below exactly what we are asking DHEC to do based on our July 9th action. Thanks
CITY OF COLUMBIA:
* Requested DHEC accelerate the schedule for the development of fecal coliform Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) in local water bodies. This effort should encompass the impaired water bodies (lower Saluda, lower Broad downstream from Columbia Canal, and Gills Creek watershed areas) within and near the City.
* Expressed interest in working collaboratively with DHEC and other entities in developing such a TMDL(s) that will serve as a comprehensive tool and a road map to improve and restore impaired water bodies in and near the City.
* Offered assistance to DHEC for this effort as deemed necessary and appropriate by DHEC.
Related Posts
It’s 10 years too late, after the Riverwalk, kayak center, CCI fiasco, and all that was cooked up in back rooms, out of public view, and served up half-baked for the taxpayers to maintain.
The essence of governance: calling for a meeting to accomplish what should have been done without one.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but who has time to keep everything running smooth when he has two columns a week to write?
These meetings, conferences, committees and phony “town hall” meetings are only to give some illusion of democratic process. In reality, the real deals are cooked up illegally, in private meetings with developers and others who demand taxpayer subsidies in return for political “contributions”.
Bob Coble just announced that he and the City Council will retreat to work in private. Sounds illegal, but so are a lot of their activities.
The ONLY circumstances where elected officials should meet in private should be when discussing specific personnel issues or student discipline.
I guess you have never heard of the Section 208 Water Quality Management Plan developed by the Central Midlands COG in the 1990’s that called for removal of all sanitary waste discharges to the Lower Saluda River. Not surprised though.
All septic tanks were supposed to be removed from around Lake Murray, too, starting in 1975.
DHEC also said in 1984, that no more well water should be pumped out of Horry County to supply Myrtle Beach development, because it was causing salt water incursion, which was destroying the water supply.
DHEC has also failed to protect the clean water supplies from the Catawba River. North Carolina towns are tapping the water and selling it to Charlotte, which then dumps its sewerage into the Catawba just above the SC line.