The various impacts that Charleston Water System's operations have on the environment are called aspects and 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 2009 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
2009 Significant Environmental Aspects
Listed by Department - Click to view descriptions
Administrative Group
Performance Scorecard
Career Progression for Critical Positions
Environmental Resources
Transportation - Tractor Trucks
Fleet
Refueling System - Fuel Usage
Hanahan Water Treatment Plant
Security - Facility Protection
Filtration - Capacity
Chemicals - Storage
High Service Pumping - Equipment
Emergency Preparedness - Terrorism
Wastewater Collection
Infiltration and Inflow (I&I)
Water Distribution
Infrastructure Integrity and Protection
Infrastructure Rehabilitation
Aerial Water Mains
Administrative Group
Performance Scorecard
This is the software system Charleston Water System uses to track our Key Performance Indicators. The Scorecard is still in the implementation phase; once in use, it will enable us to track our performance on important performance indicators.
Career Progression for Critical Positions
With much of our workforce eligible for retirement over the next few years, capturing system knowledge is important. We're in the process of developing a succession plan to ensure knowledge transfer for key positions.
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Environmental Resources
Transportation - Tractor Trucks
Charleston Water System uses tractor trailers to transport dewatered sludge—a by-product of the treatment process that is disposed of at the landfill. Ensuring these trucks are properly maintained reduces the risk of a sludge spill.
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Fleet
Refueling System - Fuel Usage
With a fleet of more than 250 vehicles and construction equipment, minimizing fuel usage is important not only to minimizing cost, but also to reducing our impact on the environment.
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Hanahan Water Treatment Plant
Security - Facility Protection & Terrorism
Securing our treatment plant against intruders is a priority for Charleston Water System. We have made significant security improvements, including additional fencing around the plant and electronic security monitoring.
Filtration - Capacity
Filtration is a key step in the water treatment process. After taking some aging filter basins out of service several years ago, the need for additional filter capacity became more urgent. New filters are included in our Capital Improvement Program and are currently under construction.
Chemicals - Storage
We're in the process of constructing a new storage area for our water treatment chemicals. The new storage will be more secure and provide more containment and protection in the event of a spill.
High Service Pumping - Equipment
The high service pumps send our treated water into the distribution system. They are essential to maintaining adequate water pressure, which is not only ideal, but necessary to maintain water quality. Our plant staff monitors these pumps continually via remote instrumentation and operates them according to standard operating instructions.
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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.
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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
Aerial Water Mains
Aerial water mains are mains located above ground, typically over marshes. Some aerial mains are aging and in need of replacement or rehabilitation. Charleston Water System now constructs water mains by directionally drilling under a marsh or waterway, which protects the pipe against above-ground hazards.
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 |
