| Who to Call for Environmental Concerns |
Environmental Emergencies
Dumping, spills and releases of hazardous substances (including oil and petroleum products, chemicals, hazardous waste, pesticides), fish kills, and illegal open burning of items like tires, plastic, copper wire, asbestos covered materials (Not yard debris, see below)Who To Call:
DHEC Emergency Response 24 hours a day/seven days a week
(803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Non-emergency Open Burning
Burning of land clearing and/or yard debrisWho to Call:
DHEC Region 3 Columbia Office
During business hours: (803) 896-0620
After hours and weekends: (803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Algae Blooms
Appearance of excessive algae (mats, surface scum) that may give off an unpleasant odor; can be associated with the death of other organisms like fishWho To Call:
DHEC Region 3 Columbia Office
During business hours: (803) 896-0620
After hours and weekends: (803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Illegal Dumping
Any type of waste not disposed of at a permitted facility or landfill including appliances, tires, trash and medical waste. Pouring of the following items down or near stormdrains should also be reported: paint, household chemicals, pet waste, trash or greaseWho to Call:
City of Columbia
Preferred method during business hours: (803) 545-4001 or (803) 545-3186
Additional contacts during business hours and after hours non-emergencies:
Use the webform at: www.Columbia.SC.Gov/Cleanwater
After hours emergency: call DHEC (803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Richland County (includes Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes)
During business hours: (803) 576-3599
After hours emergency: call DHEC (803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Sewer Overflows
Untreated wastewater flowing from a manhole, pump station or broken sewer line; also any broken or leaking water or sewer lineWho To Call:
City of Columbia
24 Hour Response: (803) 545-3910
Richland County (includes Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes)
During business hours: (803) 576-3599
After hours emergency: call DHEC (803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Improper Best Management Practices At Construction Sites
Dirt and/or debris flowing off a site under construction and/or into a stormdrain, stream or lake (Not including ponds designed to capture runoff)Who to Call:
City of Columbia
Preferred method during business hours: (803) 545-4517 or (803) 231-9383
Additional contacts during business hours and after hours non-emergencies: Use the webform at: www.Columbia.SC.Gov/Cleanwater
After hours emergency: call DHEC (803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Richland County (includes Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes)
During business hours: (803) 576-3599
After hours emergency: call DHEC (803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Leaking Tanks, Garbage Bins Or Fats Disposal Bins
Who To Call:City of Columbia
Preferred method during business hours:
For fats disposal bins: call the FOG program at (803) 545-3400
For leaking tanks and garbage bins: call Solid Waste at (803) 545-3800
Additional contacts during business hours and after hours non-emergencies: Use the webform at: www.Columbia.SC.Gov/Cleanwater
After hours emergency: call DHEC (803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Richland County (includes Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes)
During business hours: (803) 576-3599
After hours emergency: call DHEC (803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Suspicious Pipes Discharging Into Creeks Or Drainage Ditches
Pipes that discharge running water, especially when it has not rained, that appears to come from sinks or toilets or that is colored, foul smelling or has a sheenWho To Call:
City of Columbia
Preferred method during business hours: (803) 545-3186 or (803) 545-4001
Additional contacts during business hours and after hours non-emergencies:
Use the webform at: www.Columbia.SC.Gov/Cleanwater
After hours emergency: call DHEC (803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Richland County (includes Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes)
During business hours: (803) 576-3599
After hours emergency: call DHEC (803) 253-6488 or 1-888-481-0125
Wetlands Fill Or Dredging
Unpermitted wetlands or floodplain fill, unpermitted removal of dirt from a waterbodyWho to Call:
Army Corps of Engineers Columbia Regulatory Field Office (803) 253-3444
This document is also available in Adobe Acrobat pdf format...
If you have seen storm water problems including construction problems and sediment, storm drain dumping, odd looking water, spills and leaks, mysterious pipes, or other problems, you can use this Gills Creek Watershed online reporting form.