Contacts and Links Summary

A number of Windsor residents have voiced concerns to the County Council about recent dramatic changes in the character of their neighborhoods and the water level in the aquifer since large commercial farms have been developed and are continuing to be developed in Windsor.  Key contacts able to give more information are:

Nilda Burke: 518-369-5009, LBURKE3456@aol.com – How the group started, their concerns, history and goals

Peter DeLorme: 803-426-6113, peterdelorme@bellsouth.net – Roads and Zoning

Ray Mansur:  803-617-9257, raymansur@bellsouth.net – A focused perspective on the water issues, water studies, aquifers.

Pastoral Advocates for Aiken – Facebook moderated group for those interested in water and quality of life issues in Aiken and Windsor area – Contact Nilda Burke for access

2016 Chart of trends in declining monitoring well levels

Chart to follow

State and Local Agencies

SC Department of Natural Resources Water Bureau (well water level monitoring, test well drilling, etc.)

Joe Gellici, Hydrologist – gellicij@dnr.sc.,gov – 803-734-6428 – groundwater study presentations to Pastoral Advocates

Alex Butler, Hydrologist – butlera@dnr.sc.gov – 803-734-4764 – presentations and information on dry wells and new test wells

C. Alex Pellett, Hydrologist – pellettc@dnr.sc.gov – 864-654-1671 – surface water study – presented to Friends of Edisto

SC Department Health & Environmental Control – HomeAndEnvironment/Water/ (domestic well testing, Capacity Use Designation)

Tim Mettlin, hydrologist – mettlinta@dhec.sc.gov- presented ground water study information to Pastoral Advocates – Aiken, and information on Capacity Use Designation process

SC DHEC Board of Directors (authorizes granting Capacity Use Designations)

Montmorenci-Couchton Water & Sewer District (serves area including Windsor)

Sherry Nestor, General Manager – 803-648-9920 – mcwater2756@gmail.com

State Water Plans and Studies

2004 SC Water Plan  Key points are found at:

GROUND-WATER LEVELS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, 2006–2010 (Published 2012) by SC DNR LAND, WATER AND CONSERVATION DIVISION – WATER RESOURCES REPORT 50 (2012)

ABSTRACT: Ground-water levels measured from 109 wells in South Carolina from 2006 through 2010 are statistically analyzed, tabulated, and presented as hydrographs. Five wells are located in the Blue Ridge Province, 13 in the Piedmont, and 91 in the Coastal Plain. Water levels in 63 of the wells were measured hourly with automated data recorders; most of the remaining wells were measured on a bimonthly schedule using hand-held electric measuring tapes. All of the wells are maintained by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for water-resource assessments. Water levels fluctuated from 1 to 27 feet over the five-year period. Many wells had water levels that were at all-time lows owing to drought conditions that persisted for several years. Most lows occurred during late summer and early fall of 2007 and 2008. Water levels in the Middendorf aquifer near Florence rose by about 12 feet over the last five years, as the city continues to supplement its ground-water supplies with surface water. Long-term downward trends are observed in the Middendorf aquifer in Allendale, Aiken, Barnwell, and Lexington Counties, and in the Lake City area of Florence County. Downward trends are also observed in the Black Creek and Tertiary san in the Floridan aquifer near Edisto Beach are declining.d aquifers in Allendale and Barnwell Counties. Water levels

Monitoring Well daily, monthly and yearly data can be viewed here.  You will need to follow instructions ondataSCDNR Current well monitoring modifying your internet settings on MS Explorer or use Safari in order to view.

Ongoing Ground and Surface Water Studies

Assessment of Ground Water Availability in Aiken County, South Carolina Water Study with USGS running from 2014 to 2018

Surface Water Modeling and Assessment – on-going study

South Carolina State Law and DHEC regulations related to Ground Water

Ground Water Use and Reporting Act Title49 Chapter 5 – SC Code of Laws

Ground Water Use and Reporting Regulation (R61.113) – SC DHEC Regulations

Aiken County Council

SC Legislative Delegation for Aiken County