 "Photo: Scott Fowler <i>The Daily Gamecock</i>")
American Rivers, Upstate Forever and DHEC are collaborating to decide the future of the Saluda River.
According to a press release, the Saluda River is still choking from phosphorous pollution caused by wastewater treatment plants, but it has captured the attention of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Collaboration between legislators, state agencies, wastewater treatment plant owners and operators and the community at large is likely to result in meaningful phosphorus limits on wastewater plants in the Saluda watershed and all future wastewater permits issued by DHEC.
Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers, said it is important to ensure the Saluda River remains the lifeblood of these communities and doesn’t become a liability that hurts the economy and quality of life.
“This river provides drinking water and recreation for hundreds of thousands of people,” Wodder said. “Clean water needs to be a top priority.”
Matt Rice, associate director of Southeast conservation at American Rivers, said the amount of phosphorus discharged from typical waste water treatment plants is regulated by some states but not by others. Rice said South Carolina has not put regulations on phosphorous pollution yet.
“Several waste water treatment plants upstream of Lake Murray and Lake Greenwood on the Saluda River do not regulate phosphorous in any way,” Rice said. “This has led to giant algae bloom that has killed fish and sucks the oxygen out of the water. Fish need oxygen to live and reduce property value on Lake Greenwood. We’re asking people that care about the Saluda River to contact DHEC.”
Rice said that in the coming months and coming year DHEC will be renewing the treatment plants’ permits.
“This is something DHEC has been concerned about for many years,” Rice said. “There are things that phosphorous does to rivers and lakes and DHEC has yet to issue any permits. They’re going to have to make a tough decision and commit to it.”
Rice said that in the next year treatment plants have to get a renewal for their discharge.
“Right now it’s the best time to do it,” Rice said. “They have to make the decision to regulate phosphorous.”
Rice said we can expect the Saluda River to recover.
“That’s one of the things about rivers — they have the ability to recover in a timely fashion,” Rice said.
Lisa Augustine, USC doctorate student and Rural Waters Project Associate in Upstate Forever, said the Most Endangered Rivers Campaign listing is based on the importance of the river to the community and environment.
“I think it is important to note that the Saluda is not one of the most polluted rivers, but rather at a tipping point where key decisions made could impact the future state of the river,” Augustine said. “We could save the river by reducing phosphorus loads from point source dischargers.”
Augustine said the state is at a point now where phosphorous limits can be established at wastewater treatment plants so that the problem can begin to be solved before the state of the river worsens.
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