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2021 Sewer Spill Report

January 21, 2022

For the last nine years Congaree Riverkeeper has reviewed the data from DHEC's Sewer Overflow Database to compile an annual sewer spill report for our watershed. In 2021 there were 129 reported sanitary sewer overflows totaling 1,879,896 gallons of sewage spilled in Congaree Riverkeeper's jurisdictional area.


Sewer overflows can contaminate our waterways, impacting water quality and public health. River users who are exposed to sewer overflows may experience health issues including infections, rashes, and gastrointestinal issues.

Sewer Spill Near Rawls Creek

2021 Sewer Spill Summary

PERMITTEE # of Spills Volume of Spills (Gallons) % of Total
COLUMBIA CITY OF 100 1,489,348 79.23%
CAYCE CITY OF 3 307,000 16.33%
RICHLAND COUNTY UTILITIES & SERVICES 8 56,288 2.99%
SYNERGY UTILITIES 3 11,000 0.59%
BLUE GRANITE WATER COMPANY (Carolina Water Service) 3 5,800 0.31%
FORT JACKSON SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM 1 4,450 0.24%
EAST RICHLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT 1 2,350 0.13%
TOWN OF LEXINGTON 1 2,000 0.11%
PALMETTO WASTEWATER RECLAMATION LLC - ALPINE UTILITIES STOOP CREEK WWTP 5 800 0.04%
PALMETTO UTILITIES INC - WOODLAND HILLS WEST SD 3 850 0.05%
DOMINION ENERGY SOUTH CAROLINA INC/V C SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION 1 10 0.001%
TOTAL 129 1,879,896 100%

The total volume of sewage spilled into our watershed again saw an increase from previous years, up by nearly half a million gallons from last year, and significantly higher than the three previous years. Once again the trend is moving in the wrong direction.

SSO Hotspots


Lower Saluda River

2021 started off pretty rough for the Lower Saluda with numerous spills totaling nearly half a million gallons in the first two months of the year. Several of those spills were related to extended wet weather in February. Since the beginning of the year spills on the Lower Saluda have dramatically decreased.


Congaree River

Two of the largest spills of the year impacted the first few miles of the Congaree River; the April 21st spill in Cayce near the Riverland Park neighborhood, and the July 21st spill at the City of Columbia's pump station near the Blossom Street Bridge.


Reeder Point Branch

Reeder Point Branch, a tributary to Mill Creek in southeast Richland County was impacted by several spills, including two of the ten largest spills of the year.

Top Ten Reported Sewer Spills

Date Permitte Spill Volume (Gallons) Receiving Water Cause
4/21/21 CAYCE CITY OF 300,000 DITCHES AROUND RIVERLAND PARK SUBDIVISION POWER FAILURE AT PUMP STATION
2/19/21 COLUMBIA CITY OF 249,600 REEDER POINT BRANCH EXTENDED WET WEATHER
7/21/21 COLUMBIA CITY OF 216,837 CONGAREE RIVER BLOCKAGE IN FORCE MAIN
2/8/21 COLUMBIA CITY OF 153,808 STORM DRAIN TO RAWLS CREEK PUMP STATION FAILURE
2/18/21 COLUMBIA CITY OF 122,288 SALUDA RIVER EXTENDED WET WEATHER
2/15/21 COLUMBIA CITY OF 118,200 SALUDA RIVER EXTENDED WET WEATHER
12/30/21 COLUMBIA CITY OF 86,920 REEDER POINT BRANCH PUMP STATION FAILURE
2/19/21 COLUMBIA CITY OF 86,250 SALUDA RIVER EXTENDED WET WEATHER
1/3/21 COLUMBIA CITY OF 63,875 SALUDA RIVER EXTENDED WET WEATHER
12/5/21 COLUMBIA CITY OF 57,850 TRIB TO LAKE REBECCA BLOCKAGE IN GRAVITY SEWER SYSTEM (3RD PARTY RESPONSIBLE)

Important Notes


  • This report only represent the reported sanitary sewer overflows within the Congaree Riverkeeper jurisdictional area. Some sewer providers in the Midlands had spills that impacted other waterbodies outside our jurisdiction, like Lake Murray and the Wateree River.

  • Most sewer providers are only required to report spills that are over 500 gallons or that impact a waterbody.

  • This report also only accounts for sewer overflows that were reported to DHEC. Some sewer providers and satellite sewer systems fail to officially report their spills to DHEC (like the spill at the Riverbend Apartments in the video below).


Past Reports

Click the links to view the past reports from 2019 and 2020.

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