SC.GOV: The Official Web site of the State of South Carolina

COLUMBIA - The area in Beaufort County’s Battery Creek under a swimming advisory since Monday due to a large spill of untreated sewage from a clogged manhole has been reduced, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.

“The area still under a swimming advisory has decreased by about half,” said Russell Berry, director of DHEC’s Region 8 environmental quality control which includes Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. “The advisory continues for Battery Creek from Deer Island across to Cottage Farms north to the headwaters.”

Berry said the original advisory area involved Battery Creek from the S.C. Highway 802 Bridge to the headwaters. Water samples continue to be taken from Battery Creek. Samples taken from the areas no longer in the advisory area indicated the water quality was acceptable.

Berry said the advisory resulted from a large spill of raw sewage that occurred earlier this week near the Cross Creek Shopping Center in Beaufort. The Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority removed obstructions from the sewer line and removed spilled sewage from the manhole and areas leading to the creek.

The swimming advisory will remain in effect until sample results indicate acceptable water quality.

-###-

NOTE TO EDITORS:

• Included is a map (pdf) of the current Battery Creek advisory area.
• For more information on swimming advisories, go to DHEC’s Web site at:
  http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/water/swim.htm