Groups suggest rules to keep lakes cleaner

Marine operators, lawmakers propose ban forcing restrictions on boats that can dump treated waste

Web posted February 14, 1998

Associated Press

COLUMBIA -- Large boats that now can dump treated waste into South Carolina's lakes would have to go to a marina under rules proposed by state regulators looking to protect what they say are some of the cleanest lakes around.

Lake Murray is the first lake in the group for which the ban will be sought. The others are Lakes Wateree, Wiley, Greenwood, Moultrie, Marion, Thurmond, Russell, Keowee and Jocassee.

At Lake Murray, the ban is supported by marina operators, some Midlands lawmakers and the Lake Murray Association, a group of lake users, residents and businesses.

``To save your lake, you've got to do what you can to protect it,'' said Jerry Verdino, general manager of Lake Murray Marina in Ballentine.

Current rules allow boats longer than 26 feet to dump only chemically treated sewage. Smaller boats already must go to a marina because they generally do not have treatment facilities on board.

As more people purchase lakeside homes and use them for recreation, regulators have looked to a total ban.

``We are not seeing any water quality problem related to this, and we wouldn't like to see one,'' said Kathy Stecker, a biologist at the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

But Denard Harris, of Lighthouse Marina, isn't sure the ban can work. ``It may be almost unenforceable. Who's going to monitor it?'' he asked.

Sally Knowles, who oversees DHEC's clean water efforts, said boat tanks would likely be sealed with a tag that breaks when waste is dumped. State Natural Resources officers would have to watch for illegal dumping, she said.

``There's not any good way to ensure against it,'' she said. ``A lot of it is going to have to be self-enforced.''

If DHEC officials adopt the ban, it still must be accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Legislature. The process could take about two years.

State Rep. Andre Bauer, a Lexington County Republican who lives along Lake Murray, is seeking legislative endorsement up front.