(A) In order to comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, in addition to other fees authorized under this article, the department is authorized to collect an annual fee from each public water system. The schedule for the annual fee, established pursuant to this article, may not be increased except in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act. Upon appropriation of additional state funds for this specific purpose or state funds not otherwise allocated for specific purposes to implement the provisions of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the department shall adjust the fee schedule by an equivalent amount.
(B) There is established in the treasurer's office an account entitled the Drinking Water Trust Fund which is separate and distinct from the Environmental Protection Fund established pursuant to Chapter 2, Title 48. The fees collected from the public water systems pursuant to this section must be deposited into the Drinking Water Trust Fund and must be provided to the department solely for purposes of implementing this chapter and the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The fees must be established in accordance with fees which fund the Environmental Protection Fund pursuant to Chapter 2, Title 48.
(C) There is established a Safe Drinking Water Advisory Committee for the purpose of advising and providing an annual review to the department and General Assembly on the fee schedule and the use of revenues deposited in the Drinking Water Trust Fund. The Governor shall appoint the advisory committee which must be composed of one member representing water systems with fifty thousand or more service connections, one member representing water systems with at least twenty-five thousand but fewer than fifty thousand service connections, one member representing water systems with at least ten thousand but fewer than twenty-five thousand water service connections, one member representing water systems with at least one thousand but fewer than ten thousand service connections, one member representing water systems with fewer than one thousand service connections, and the Executive Director of the Office of Regulatory Staff and the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, or a designee.
(D) The department may deny a construction permit to any new system which is unable to demonstrate viability to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act or where connection to an existing, viable water system is feasible. The department also may revoke or deny renewal of an operating permit to any existing water system which is unable to demonstrate its ability to continue compliance with this act.
(E) A water system may increase water rates to each service connection by an amount necessary to recover the cost of the safe drinking water fee without seeking approval of the public service commission. The total funds generated from rate increases to service connections for the purpose of paying the safe drinking water fee may not exceed the amount of the fee established pursuant to subsection (B).
HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 164, Part II, Section 75A, eff July 1, 1993; 2000 Act No. 322, Section 1; 2006 Act No. 318, Section 229, eff May 24, 2006.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 55 - Water, Sewage, Waste Disposal And The Like
Section 44-55-10. Citation of article.
Section 44-55-20. Definitions.
Section 44-55-45. Advisory Committee to Board; membership; appointment; qualifications; terms.
Section 44-55-50. Recreational activities in reservoirs.
Section 44-55-70. Public notice of condition of violation in public water system.
Section 44-55-80. Unlawful acts.
Section 44-55-90. Penalties; injunctive relief.
Section 44-55-100. Authority granted department to carry out article.
Section 44-55-210. "Privy" and "watershed" defined.
Section 44-55-220. Article applicable to all privies on watersheds of water supplies.
Section 44-55-230. Privies must be maintained in sanitary manner.
Section 44-55-240. Persons responsible for condition of privies.
Section 44-55-250. Supervision over privies by Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Section 44-55-260. Entry onto premises for inspection; interference with inspector.
Section 44-55-270. Closing illegal privies.
Section 44-55-275. Exceptions to provisions regarding destruction of privies.
Section 44-55-280. Removal or defacing of notice prohibited.
Section 44-55-290. Enforcement by local health inspectors or units.
Section 44-55-410. Required sewage closets.
Section 44-55-420. Supervision over construction and maintenance.
Section 44-55-430. Adoption of rules and regulations.
Section 44-55-440. Effect of compliance with former law.
Section 44-55-450. Exemptions.
Section 44-55-610. Application of article and local specifications, rules and regulations.
Section 44-55-620. Specifications, rules and regulations for septic tanks and their installation.
Section 44-55-630. Approval of and specifications for tanks with capacity of 1,000 gallons or more.
Section 44-55-640. Installation of septic tanks.
Section 44-55-650. Materials used in construction.
Section 44-55-660. Grease traps.
Section 44-55-670. Distribution pipe.
Section 44-55-680. Discharge of effluent into stream.
Section 44-55-690. Installation of temporary septic tanks.
Section 44-55-710. Validity of permits.
Section 44-55-810. Declaration of legislative purpose.
Section 44-55-820. Electricity may not be furnished unless sewage disposal method has been approved.
Section 44-55-827. Promulgation of regulations.
Section 44-55-830. Permits furnished to seller of mobile home.
Section 44-55-850. Construction.
Section 44-55-1010. Counties may regulate collection and disposal of garbage.
Section 44-55-1020. Article inapplicable to certain cities, towns, and individuals.
Section 44-55-1030. Collection or disposal of garbage without license unlawful.
Section 44-55-1040. Issuance of collection and disposal franchise.
Section 44-55-1050. County health department shall enforce article.
Section 44-55-1060. Penalties.
Section 44-55-1210. Counties may engage in collection and disposal of solid wastes; service charges.
Section 44-55-1220. Promulgation of rules and regulations.
Section 44-55-1230. Penalties for violation of rules and regulations.
Section 44-55-1310. Definitions.
Section 44-55-1320. Wastewater collection, treatment, discharge, or reclamation.
Section 44-55-1330. System installation requirements.
Section 44-55-1350. Alternative tile field product regulations.
Section 44-55-1360. Violation.
Section 44-55-1410. Counties may operate water and sewer facilities.
Section 44-55-1510. Prohibition of discharge of fumes of acids or similar substances.
Section 44-55-1520. Damages in civil actions.
Section 44-55-2310. Short title.
Section 44-55-2320. Definitions.
Section 44-55-2330. Promulgation of regulations.
Section 44-55-2340. Permits; water quality.
Section 44-55-2350. Permit fees.
Section 44-55-2360. Noncompliance unlawful.
Section 44-55-2370. Violations; penalties; disposition of penalty monies.
Section 44-55-2380. Enforcement of regulations.
Section 44-55-2390. Lifeguard coverage for public swimming pools; procedures for a variance.