(A) Each permitted or registered surface water withdrawer must file a report with the department of the quantity of water withdrawn by that surface water withdrawer annually before February first, on forms furnished by the department.

(B) The quantity of surface water withdrawn must be determined by one of the following:

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 49-4-50

  • Department: means the Department of Health and Environmental Control. See South Carolina Code 49-4-20
  • Registered surface water withdrawer: means a person who makes surface water withdrawals for agricultural uses at an agricultural facility that is filing a report pursuant to § 49-4-50. See South Carolina Code 49-4-20
  • Surface water: means all water that is wholly or partially within the State, including the Savannah River, or within its jurisdiction, which is open to the atmosphere and subject to surface runoff, including, but not limited to, lakes, streams, ponds, rivers, creeks, runs, springs, and reservoirs, but not including water and wastewater treatment impoundments, off-stream supplemental operations related impoundments, or water storage structures constructed by the surface water withdrawer to provide adequate supplies of surface water during low flow conditions. See South Carolina Code 49-4-20
  • Surface water withdrawer: means a person withdrawing surface water in excess of three million gallons during any one month from a single intake or multiple intakes under common ownership within a one mile radius from any one existing or proposed intake. See South Carolina Code 49-4-20
  • Withdrawal: means to remove surface water from its natural course or location, or exercising physical control over surface water in its natural course or location, regardless of whether the water is returned to its waters of origin, consumed, transferred to another river basin, or discharged elsewhere. See South Carolina Code 49-4-20

(1) flow meters accurate to within ten percent of calibration;

(2) the rated capacity of the pump in conjunction with the use of an hour meter, electric meter, or log;

(3) the rated capacity of the cooling systems;

(4) any standard or method employed by the United States Geological Survey in determining these quantities;

(5) any other method found to provide reliable water withdrawal data approved by the department.

(C) Permitted and registered surface water withdrawers who are required to file a surface water withdrawal report pursuant to subsection (A) are not required to submit the report if the monthly quantity withdrawn from each intake is being reported to the department as a result of another environmental program reporting requirement, permit condition, or consent agreement.