South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 4 - South Carolina Surface Water Withdrawal, Permitting Use, And Reporting Act
Section 49-4-100. Surface water withdrawal permits; contents; valid for certain time period.

(A) Surface water withdrawal permits issued by the department must:
(1) identify the location of the permittee's intake facility used or constructed to make withdrawals pursuant to the permit;
(2) specify the amount of water that may be withdrawn;
(3) specify the amount of water to be discharged back into the surface water body and location of the discharge;
(4) specify the volume of supplemental water supply if needed;
(5) specify the minimum instream flow at the point of withdrawal;
(6) specify the minimum instream flow triggers that will determine if the permittee's withdrawal must be reduced;
(7) specify the stream flow, that will be used to notify the applicant of starting the reduction of withdrawal;
(8) specify the date upon which the permit expires; and
(9) clearly state that the terms and conditions of the permit are subject to the provisions of the South Carolina Drought Response Act.
(B) Permits issued by the department, unless revoked or suspended pursuant to this chapter, shall be valid for a period to represent the economic life of any capital investments made by the permittee necessary to carry out the permittee's use of the withdrawn water. Permits must be issued for:
(1) twenty years, or a greater period the department considers reasonable based upon its review of all the facts and circumstances relevant to a proposed withdrawal not to exceed an additional twenty years;
(2) thirty years for a permittee entitled to an initial permit pursuant to Section 49-4-70(B), or a greater period the department considers reasonable based upon its review of all the facts and circumstances relevant to the proposed withdrawal not to exceed an additional ten years; or
(3) any additional period necessary, not to exceed a total of fifty years, for a municipality or other governmental body to retire a bond it issued to finance the construction of waterworks.
HISTORY: 2010 Act No. 247, Section 1, eff January 1, 2011.

Editor's Note
2010 Act No. 247, Section 4.B, provides:
"Chapter 1, Title 49 of the 1976 Code is not affected by and supersedes Chapter 4, Title 49 of the 1976 Code, as amended by SECTION 1 of this act."

Structure South Carolina Code of Laws

South Carolina Code of Laws

Title 49 - Waters, Water Resources and Drainage

Chapter 4 - South Carolina Surface Water Withdrawal, Permitting Use, And Reporting Act

Section 49-4-10. Short title.

Section 49-4-20. Definitions.

Section 49-4-25. Surface water withdrawal permit required.

Section 49-4-30. Exemptions.

Section 49-4-35. Registration of surface water use; amount of withdrawals; time to start withdrawals; modification or suspension of authority to withdraw water.

Section 49-4-40. Applications and permits for surface water withdrawals.

Section 49-4-45. New surface water withdrawers; review and approval; reporting requirements.

Section 49-4-50. Reports of quantity of water withdrawn; methods for determining quantity.

Section 49-4-55. Registered and exempt surface water withdrawers can apply for surface water withdrawal permits; criteria.

Section 49-4-60. Use of surface water on nonriparian land.

Section 49-4-70. Applications for surface water withdrawal; time for application; initial permits; interbasin transfer permits.

Section 49-4-80. Contents of application for surface water withdrawal permit; department criteria; department duties.

Section 49-4-90. Hearings for new surface water withdrawal permit applications for interbasin transfers; notice.

Section 49-4-100. Surface water withdrawal permits; contents; valid for certain time period.

Section 49-4-110. Effect of surface water withdrawal permit.

Section 49-4-120. Modification, suspension and revocation of permit; conditions; renewal of permit.

Section 49-4-130. Notice of construction of new surface water intake required.

Section 49-4-140. Temporary surface water withdrawal permit; necessity.

Section 49-4-150. Amount of withdrawal dependent on definition of minimum instream flow; public water suppliers; determination of amount of water available.

Section 49-4-160. Operation and contingency plan to promote adequate water supply maintained on site; contents of plan; exceptions.

Section 49-4-170. Powers and duties of department.

Section 49-4-175. Authority to collect, and the amount of, surface water withdrawal permit fees.

Section 49-4-180. Violation of chapter; penalties.