 WAC-019
A cache by Cache and Dash SC Hidden: 4/29/2009
Size:  (Regular) Difficulty:  Terrain:  (1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)
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This series of caches will detail portions of the State's Ocean
Water Quality Monitoring and Notification program. This beach site
is sample location 'WAC-019' in the program and this cache will
detail the advisories and permenant signs you may see on the
beaches:
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND RISK COMMUNICATION PLAN
South Carolina issues two types of advisories: water quality
exceedance advisories and preemptive advisories. Advisories are
posted as necessary May 15 through October 15. DHEC and local
governments also post permanent warnings in specific areas.
Water Quality Exceedance Advisory: If a routine sample at a
Tier 1 or Tier 2 beach exceeds a certain State limit for safe
swimming, a repeat sample is collected within 24 hours. If the
repeat sample also exceeds this limit, an advisory is issued. If
any single routine sample exceeds a higher threshold limit (Tier 1
or 2), an advisory is immediately issued. Once an advisory is
issued, sampling is conducted daily until the concentration falls
back below the State limit for safe swimming.
Preemptive Advisories: It is known from previous monitoring
results that certain areas routinely experience elevated bacteria
levels following rainfall. Due to the time required for analysis
(24 hours to incubate the bacteria and determine concentrations),
it may not be protective of public health under certain
circumstances to wait for actual results (you get into a situation
of "Don't swim there yesterday...") Therefore, preemptive rainfall
advisories may be issued for these areas at the discretion of the
region’s program manager. Ocean water samples are taken to
confirm the advisory. Preemptive advisories may also be issued due
to extreme weather events such as hurricanes or tropical storms or
due to pollution events such as sewage spills.
Public Notification In the event of an advisory, signs are
posted at conspicuous areas on the affected beach. If feasible,
signs are posted at points of entry to the affected beaches. Beach
advisory signs state the following:
SWIMMING ADVISORY ISSUED FOR THIS AREA A Swimming Advisory Has
Been Issued By (local jurisdiction) and The SC Department of Health
and Environmental Control for This Section of Beach. High Bacteria
Levels Have Been Detected In This Section of The Beach, and
Swimming Is NOT Advised Until Bacteria Levels Return to
Normal.
The responsible region staff member contacts the appropriate
municipality. Local media outlets are contacted by the
region’s program manager as well.
DHEC also maintains a web site that is useful for communicating
information to residents, tourists and other agencies,
www.scdhec.gov/water/html/beachmon.html. This website contains
program information, frequently asked questions, and program
contact information.
Procedure for Removing Advisories or Warnings: An advisory
is removed when sample results confirm that enterococci levels are
within acceptable State limits. The municipality is notified of the
sample results, the website is updated by DHEC staff, the sign is
removed, and media outlets are contacted by either DHEC staff or
the municipality.
PERMANENT WARNINGS:
Permanent warnings are issued at specific swashes and storm water
outfalls based on continuous poor water quality in these areas,
especially following rainfall. Permanent signs are posted at these
sites warning that swimming or playing in runoff is not
recommended.
The City of Myrtle Beach placed permanent signs at all DHEC
sampling sites in 2008 and one can be found at this location
specifically on the beach near the dunes even though no outfall or
swash exists at this location.
Info about the cache series: Each cache in the "WAC" series
will have items pertaining to the State's "Stay Well in the Water"
program or in the case of WAC-034, items from the Town of Surfside.
Feel free to take one from each cache and I'll try to keep them all
stocked with different items. Also, each cacher that logs finds at
all four caches in the series will get a special "Stay Well in the
Water" totebag! (One per family of cachers, please). Check out all
four, learn the background and facts and become educated so you can
help educate others!
For further information check out the rest of the caches in the
series:
WAC-004: Program Overview
WAC-034: Math Modeling and Future Projects
WAC-041: Tier Classification System and Sampling Procedure
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