The impacts of Charleston Water System's operations on the environment are called aspects, and they include everything from the disposal of paper waste to the proper use of water treatment chemicals.
While we manage many environmental aspects, some have a greater potential for substantially impacting the environment, and these are called significant aspects.
Charleston Water evaluates our environmental aspects annually in accordance with our Environmental Management System (EMS). This helps ensure we have adequate control methods to prevent adverse impacts on the environment.
Our 2012 environmental aspects are listed below by department. For more information about our environmental aspects or our EMS program please contact the Executive Office at (843) 727-6856.
Charleston Water System's
2012 Significant Environmental Aspects
Listed by Department - Click to view descriptions
Fleet Maintenance Department
Refueling System - Fuel Storage, Handling, and Usage
Water Treatment
Low Service Pumping - Pumps & Equipment
High Service Pumping Capacity
Water Distribution
Infrastructure Integrity: Infrastructure Rehabilitation
Wastewater Collection
Infiltration and Inflow (I&I)
Wastewater Tunnel Operations
Wastewater Treatment
Solids Handling - Dewatering Holding Tank & Blower
Fleet Maintenance Department
Refueling System - Fuel Storage, Handling, and Usage
With a fleet of more than 250 vehicles and construction equipment, ensuring proper storage and handling of fuel, as well as reducing fuel usage is important not only to minimizing cost, but also to reducing our impact on the environment. The Fleet Department has Standard Operating Instructions for fuel island operations and detecting fuel leaks.
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Water Treatment
Low Service Pumping - Pumps & Equipment
Low service pumps convey raw (untreated) water into the plant for treatment, so the proper operation and maintenance of these pumps is key to the treatment process. The plant staff has standard operating instructions and instrumentation to ensure proper operation and maintenance of these pumps.
High Service Pumping Capacity
High service pumps push treated water into the distribution system. These pumps are key to maintaining water system pressure, which is critical to water quality, fire protection, and service reliability. The treatment plant monitors high service pumping 24/7 via instrumentation that produces real-time data. Standard operating instructions ensure proper operation of high service pumps.
Water Distribution
Infrastructure Integrity, Protection, and Rehabilitation
Rehabilitating aging water infrastructure is necessary to ensure reliable service and water quality. Charleston Water System prioritizes infrastructure upgrades based on need, regulatory requirements, and hydraulic modeling.
Learn more about capital improvement projects
Wastewater Collection
Infiltration & Inflow (I&I)
Groundwater that leaches into Charleston Water System's wastewater collection system is called infiltration and storm water that finds its way into the collection system is called inflow.
This excess water consumes the hydraulic capacity of wastewater collection mains, pump stations, and treatment plants, resulting in higher treatment costs and capital expenditures to increase the size of these facilities.
In extreme cases, infiltration and inflow can cause sewer system overflows, which occur when rainwater floods a sewer line and causes diluted wastewater to overflow sewer manholes. To help prevent such overflows, Charleston Water System has developed detailed standard operating instructions for identifying and removing sources of infiltration and inflow. Charleston Water System crews can identify these sources – cracked manholes, improper connections to the sewer system, etc., through a number of methods, including video inspections, smoke testing, and dye testing.
Wastewater Tunnel Operations
A system of deep tunnels carries wastewater to the Plum Island plant for treatment. The tunnel system was built in the early 1970s and has deteriorated over time due to the corrosive nature of wastewater.
Over the last ten years, CWS has replaced the tunnel system in phases. The last phase is the West Ashley Tunnel Replacement, which is now underway. Learn more about the Sewer Tunnel Replacement Project.
The tunnel replacement project and tunnel operations are essential to protecting the environment and public health. If not replaced, the tunnel is at risk of failure, which could result in sewer overflows that would negatively impact the environment.
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Wastewater Treatment
Solids Handling - Dewatering Holding Tank & Blower
Removing solids from influent wastewater is an important part of the treatment process. Once removed, these solids are dewatered and transported to a landfill for disposal. The solids handling process is controlled by standard operating instructions.
For more information about Charleston Water System's Environmental Management System or Significant Aspects, please contact the Managers Office at (843) 727-6856.
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Environment>Environmental Impacts |
