Together for Beaufort – Our County – Our Future
“We will be good stewards of our natural resources
by protecting and monitoring water quality”
Proposed Action Items and Monitoring of Success
Revised August 2009
Proposed Revisions Sept 27, 2010
1. Provide water quality education for municipal officials annually for all elected officials and
planning/engineering/Stormwater Utility staffs of each Beaufort County government.
Responsible Agency: Friends of the Rivers
a. Invite every official and staff member who has yet to attend a NEMO program.
Educate every Beaufort County decision maker who has not yet attended a NEMO
Program.
b. Publish those expected to attend and those who did not attend each annual program
through 2012. Publish those who attend each annual program through 2012.
2. Review the mapping of all Beaufort County existing septic tanks and water wells through
GIS.
Responsible Agency: SC DHEC, BJWSA
a. Work with all governments, PSDs, Septic Pumping Companies, and agencies to gather
existing information.
b. Work with government staffs to develop maintenance and repair program to bring
residents into compliance.
c. Identify low cost loans for residents to come into compliance
i. Look into USDA and BJWSA for potential sources of funds.
d. Establish link of wells and septic system to ground water intrusion and contamination
Septic Tank Successes:
 319 Grant, May River
 319 Grant Okatie River
 HH - SAFE-Sewer Availability For Everyone
 PR Sound Fund Award – rewarding citizens for Septic Tank upkeep
3. Water Monitoring Links
Responsible Agency:: Town of Bluffton, Town of Hilton Head,
SCDHEC, BJWSA, Beaufort County Stormwater Utility
a. Together for Beaufort Web Page collecting links to all monitoring programs including
SCDHEC, BJWSA, municipalities, Sea Grant, Sun City, etc
Monitoring Successes:
 Committee meets every 2 months sharing monitoring information and data
 Links on Beaufort County web page
4. Support the establishment of the Water Quality Testing Laboratory at the University of South
Carolina Beaufort South Campus as identified in the draft Beaufort County 2007
Comprehensive Plan. Responsible Agency: Town of Bluffton
a. Seek SCDHEC Lab Certification for various tests. Presently certified for E Coli.
b. Identify future funding sources for equipment and staff for county-wide use. (Note: This
may be a University decision on whether to keep lab as a teaching lab vs. production
lab.)
Laboratory Successes:
 USC-B Lab up and running. Certified for E. Coliform. Comparison tests for fecal
coliform and E Coli have shown to be comparable.
 Beaufort County in now using (Paying per sample)
5. Support addition of educational component on the Conservation of Groundwater Resources
into current water education efforts.
Responsible Agency: Beaufort Conservation District and Clemson Extension
a. Focus on appropriate grade level
b. Present Groundwater Model to SWUB and Beaufort County Natural Resources
Committee and seek grants.
Successes:
 Bft Conservation District has presented over 35 programs to Beaufort County Schools.
 Clemson/Beaufort Cons Dist. will Partner together to plan demonstrations.
 DNR & County have established an agreement to compare hydrology in a developed
and non developed watershed.
6. Support recycling efforts in Beaufort County communities by 2012.
Responsible Agency: Beaufort County Solid Waste & Recycling
a. Review Beaufort SC DHEC annual reports vs State recycling goals
b. Establish water quality link to recycling improvements and litter reduction
c. Track Keep Beaufort County Beautiful Adopt-A-Hwy and other collection information
Successes:
 HHI is in the process of adding curbside recycling opportunity throughout the Town
 Beaufort County schools implementing single stream recycling on all campuses.
 Oil recycling for bio fuels
 Oils recycled to use for county vehicles. There is probably not enough oil in our
community for this plus the cost of the management of it. Currently it is recycled
through a collection company that processes it for animal food.
7. Storm Drain Marking Project
Responsible Agency: Friends of the Rivers, Beaufort Conservation District
a. Begin Storm drain marking program with SC Sea Grant Consortium funding already
approved, held at Beaufort County Public Works
b. Identify areas to be marked and volunteers to accomplish
c. Seek funding to continue program beyond first 1000 storm drains
d. Friends of the River will be responsible for tools, equipment and coordination.
e. Request GPS locations to overlay with mosquito control
f. Determine where else needed and how to mark them – painted stencils like Laurel Bay
or the metal plates.
Successes:
 Of the 1000 markers, some are still available. Possible areas include St. Helena,
Habersham. Also stencils still available for other sites that are more accessible for
volunteers.
 Many markers were installed in high walking areas. A complete listing is available
from Nancy Schilling.
Suggestions:
 SW is planning on numbering drains and could stencil as they number.
 Laura Lee, Nancy, and Dan will follow up.
8. Develop a new resident’s educational package (print and electronic versions) including
information on living in the lowcountry, its natural resources, do’s and don’ts of home
maintenance and landscaping, basic water quality facts, phone numbers/websites of
government agencies and organizations providing additional information.
Responsible Agency: Clemson Ext and Beaufort Conservation District
a. Identify funding for publications/cds/packaging/distribution.
b. Track number of packages placed in the community through realtors, newspapers,
online requests, etc.
Successes:
 River Smart has been developed and on line in lieu of residents package
 Related Information and links are on the Stormwater Utility and other websites.
Suggestions:
 Put educational items on the County Channel
 Road advisory 1610/1640 AM radio as possible venue for public information.
 Beaufort High has TV Class that could be used as a venue.
9. Annual Report to the community. Responsible Agency: All
a. This will be done through the Beaufort Conservation District to Together for Beaufort
annually as well as councils and local newspapers.
Success: 2009 Interim Report submitted and on line. Working on 2010 report.
Suggestions:
 All agreed on the following suggestions for Future priorities.
o form based code and its effect on water quality.
o Rural & critical lands Green Print program and its effect on water
quality.