Darlington planning group wants to prevent pollution at Black Creek

By Candace Jarrett
Morning News Reporter
Published: July 26, 2008

The Darlington County Planning Department is trying to prevent a pollution problem at Black Creek before it begins.

The public is invited to a special meeting the Darlington County Planning Commission will be hosting with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday to discuss Black Creek and its total maximum daily (pollutant) load standards.

The Clean Water Act established the principle of the total maximum daily load (TMDL) as a means of reducing water pollution in impaired waters.

A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant a body of water can receive and still meet water quality standards.

Darlington County Planning Director Doug Reimold said the plan is to see what work could be done with DHEC to possibly avoid the establishment of a TMDL at the creek.

“We contacted DHEC and they offered to come to Darlington County to share with us where they are in this process and what we can do to help meet the load standards,” he said. “They have just started to develop a TMDL for fecal coliform for Black Creek.”

DHEC is testing the water at Black Creek. Reimold said fecal coliform is one of many pollutants that could be in the creek. He added that if DHEC sets a load restriction for the creek, it will be mandated that the county fix the situation.

“It’s essentially a water quality assessment and will have certain regulations,” he said. “Hopefully, we can recognize some of the impairments and find a means for keeping them at bay.

“If we exceed the TMDL they (DHEC) set, we will be in a mandate to bring the number down and get it remediated by trying to identify the sources of the pollutant.”

The TMDL sums up the allowable loads of a single pollutant from all contributing point and nonpoint sources and ensures the body of water can be used for the purposes that have been designated, for example, drinking water, swimming or fishing in a lake or creek.

On tap to participate in the meeting so far are members of the planning commission, representatives from the cities of Hartsville and Darlington, Sonoco Products Co. and members of Pee Dee and Black Creek land trusts.

“Black Creek is a very valuable and beloved national resource for Darlington County and Florence County,” John Jay James II, president of Black Creek Land Trust, said. “Many people use it and have used it for years for fishing and swimming and many other things.

“It’s also one of the most studied streams because of the pollution it has experienced in the past that has been availed over the year ...” he said. “(The trust) welcomes any help to keep our beloved creek healthy.”

The meeting will be at Darlington County Courthouse Annex/EMS Building, 1625 Harry Byrd Highway, Darlington.

For more details, call the planning office at (843) 398-4610.