What does South Carolina law say about boat discharges?
What is a No Discharge Zone?
- The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates areas most likely to be affected by severe contamination, such as sheltered waters with low flushing rates and waters with significant recreational values, as No Discharge Zones (NDZs).
In South Carolina, the following bodies of freshwater are NDZs:
- Lake Hartwell
- Lake Keowee
- Lake Murray
- Lake Thurmond
- Lake Wylie
In South Carolina, the following bodies of saltwater are NDZs:
- Broad Creek (Hilton Head Island)
It is illegal to discharge untreated sewage from vessels within all navigable waters.
It is illegal for houseboats to discharge sewage, treated or untreated, into freshwater.
Note - Only the lakes listed in text above are designated as No Discharge Zones.