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Background
The Hills Creek Watershed (click
here for a map of the watershed) has been declared “impaired” by
the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control due to fecal
coliform contamination.
Ongoing water quality monitoring indicates that
the Watershed is contaminated by fecal coliform bacteria found
primarily in untreated animal waste and sewage. Agricultural
sources of untreated animal waste include livestock entering streams
and ponds, rainwater runoff from pastures and uncovered poultry
manure piles. Untreated sewage contamination occurs when septic
systems are working improperly and from municipal sources.
Implications
Water bodies possessing high concentrations of fecal Coliform
bacteria may also be contaminated with other bacteria and viruses
which can cause waterborne diseases such as typhoid fever, viral and
bacterial gastroenteritis and hepatitis A.
Residents with compromised immune systems are at increased risk of
health complications Previous SCDHEC grants have
allowed us to distribute more than $700,000 in two other district
watersheds with similar contaminants to improve water quality. |
