South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL › Subchapter 61-50 - Natural Public Swimming Areas › Section 61-50.D - ANNUAL OPERATING CERTIFICATE

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
1. Applicability. This section is applicable
			 to all existing natural swimming areas that have previously been issued an
			 initial operating certificate.
2.
			 Annual Operating Certificate. No natural swimming area may operate without
			 receiving an annual operating certificate issued by the Department. Application
			 for the certificate must be made utilizing a form supplied by the Department.
			 Prior to receiving the certificate, requirements of paragraphs three (3)
			 through five (5) listed below must be met. Additionally, it shall be verified
			 that a minimum of one (1) satisfactory bacteriological sample has been
			 collected in the swimming area. The criteria listed in paragraph 6(a) below
			 shall be used to determine a satisfactory sample result. Samples used in
			 determining issuance of the operating certificate shall be collected within two
			 weeks of the beginning of facility operation. All samples collected during this
			 two week time frame shall be submitted to or verified by the Department. When
			 all of the above items have been deemed acceptable, the Department will issue
			 an annual operating certificate. An operating certificate is not valid for more
			 than one (1) year and expires not later than December thirty-one (31) on the
			 year of the issuance of the certificate. Operating certificates are the
			 property of the Department and must be returned to the Department if so
			 requested.
3. Swimming Area
			 Delineation. All Natural Swimming Areas shall be required to define the
			 perimeter of the swimming area by rope and buoy, natural barrier or other
			 distinguishable method.
4. Restroom
			 Facilities. Functional restrooms must be provided within two-hundred (200) feet
			 of the swimming area. Restroom facilities must be built in accordance with the
			 local building codes.
5. Signs.
			 Facilities that do not utilize lifeguard protection during operating hours are
			 required to post a sign(s) at entrances to the swimming area. The sign(s) must
			 state as a minimum that "No lifeguards are on duty at this swimming
			 area."
6.
Routine Monitoring.
Routine monitoring shall be conducted by the facility owner or their
			 designated agent. All samples collected must be analyzed by a certified
			 laboratory in accordance with an EPA approved methodology resulting in the
			 enumeration of E. coli bacteria using most probable number (MPN) methodology.
			 The following single sample limit shall apply as the acceptable routine sample
			 standard.
a. E. coli sample: A single sample
			 maximum of 349 MPN per 100 ml.
b.
			 Samples shall be collected in a location representative of the swimming area.
			 No less than two sampling events shall be conducted every month while the
			 swimming area is in operation. Sampling events shall occur no more than
			 fourteen (14) days apart.
c. The
			 Department shall be notified by the facility owner or his/her designated agent
			 should a sample result exceed the limit as established in paragraph 6(a) of
			 this section. This notification must be received within 24 hours of an owner or
			 his/her designated agent's knowledge of the exceeded sample limit.
d. A copy of results from all samples
			 collected shall be submitted to the Department by the end of every
			 month.