10 Ways Charleston Waterkeeper is working to improve water quality in Charleston, SC and the surrounding areas
By Mark A. Leon
Charleston Waterkeeper is actively working to improve water quality in Charleston, SC through various initiatives:
1. Water Quality Testing: They test bacteria levels at 20 recreational hotspots to ensure safe swimming conditions and monitor water quality indicators such as temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen.
2. Pollution Identification: The organization identifies pollution problems by testing for contaminants like bacteria, pathogens, plastic pellets, hydrocarbons, and pesticides.
3. Advocacy and Policy: They use data from their Water Watch program to advocate for better water protections and advance actions to improve water quality.
4. Community Engagement: Charleston Waterkeeper empowers the community to report pollution and participate in clean-up activities, holding local authorities accountable.
5. Innovative Monitoring: They pilot new technologies, like silicone wristbands, to monitor contaminants in waterways.
6. Marine Debris Documentation: The organization documents marine debris to support policy efforts aimed at reducing litter.
7. DNA Science for Pathogen Identification: They use DNA science to identify pathogens in local waterways to ensure public safety.
8. Oyster Reef and Marsh Restoration: Charleston Waterkeeper creates opportunities for community involvement in habitat restoration to protect against climate change.
9. Free Marine Pumpout Service: They provide a mobile pumpout service to prevent marine sewage contamination.
10. Securing Funding: The Swim Alert project has helped secure over $1 million in state and local funding for waterway clean-up projects.
Additional Resources
- Water Quality – Charleston Waterkeeper
- The Clean Water Act and Water Quality – Charleston Waterkeeper
- Official Website: Charleston Waterkeeper – Protecting Charleston’s waterways
- Water Quality Testing and Reporting – Charleston Waterkeeper
- Defenders for clean water – What Charleston Waterkeeper Does
Charleston Daily
Charleston Daily is a concept in community. Its mission is to promote, assist, and celebrate in everything Charleston, South Carolina. By partnering with businesses, community leaders, volunteers and events, we are spreading the love that is Charleston. As this city continues to grow and prosper, we want to help spread the message to all about how wonderful this community is. Charleston is about the people, community, water, land, history, heritage and the true southern warmth it brings with each and every day.