Carolina Clear surveys in Horry and Georgetown counties highlight water quality issues

Published: February 16, 2010

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MYRTLE BEACH — Survey results by Clemson University’s Carolina Clear stormwater pollution and awareness program show that nearly nine in 10 residents of Horry and Georgetown counties recognize that stormwater is not treated before it reaches rivers, lakes and streams, but only one-third of those residents pick up after their pets.

The survey results highlight how local residents view stormwater issues in the area, and their attitudes, knowledge and behaviors related to the environment.

The survey also found that, for the most part, residents of Horry and Georgetown counties are involved in water and environmental conservation efforts. Nearly 70 percent of respondents indicated they made an effort to reduce water usage out of concern for water quantity issues, such as drought.

The Environmental Protection Agency emphasizes public education as a fundamental component in reducing stormwater runoff pollution. The EPA and the state of South Carolina require that 73 municipalities and counties in the state educate and involve the public as part of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System stormwater permit program.

Carolina Clear’s goal is to minimize polluted stormwater runoff by educating the general public, youth, builders, developers, homeowners and government officials about how to keep water in the state’s streams, rivers and basins as clean as possible, said Katie Giacalone, Carolina Clear regional coordinator and natural resources agent.

“The results of these surveys will help Carolina Clear, the Coastal Waccamaw Stormwater Education Consortium and officials in Horry and Georgetown counties identify the messages and education programs that will most benefit local residents and, hopefully, the local environment” Giacalone said.

“The end game here is to identify behaviors that each of us easily can modify to better protect our important natural resources for future generations,” she said.

The survey also found:

• 80 percent of area residents said they were concerned about pollution and the environmental quality of local streams and waterways. 

• Respondents were asked to choose the water resource in the region they most valued. Of the seven options listed, respondents were most likely to select beaches (36.5 percent), followed by the Waccamaw River (26.8 percent) and the Intracoastal Waterway (14.7 percent).

• When asked about the impact of humans on the environment, 53.4 percent indicated that what people do on the land affects the quality of their local streams and waterways “a great deal.”

The survey in Horry and Georgetown counties was one of four conducted around the state. Other regions surveyed were the Midlands, Pee Dee and the Charleston area. Full reports of the surveys’ findings are available on Carolina Clear’s Web site at http://www.carolinaclear.clemson.edu/surveys.html.

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About the survey
Carolina Clear and the Clemson University Restoration Institute contracted with researchers from Clemson University’s sociology and anthropology department and the School of Computing to conduct a telephone survey of residents of Horry and Georgetown counties. 

The population of these counties is such that a sample of 385 to 400 respondents would permit estimates of the survey results with a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent at a 95 percent confidence level. The survey was conducted from late May to early July 2009. Data were collected from 398 residents across zip codes in the two counties.

Carolina Clear
Carolina Clear is a stormwater education and awareness program of the Clemson University Restoration Institute and the Center for Watershed Excellence. The program’s goal is to minimize polluted stormwater runoff by educating the general public, youth, builders, developers, homeowners and government officials about how they can keep water in the state’s streams, rivers and basins as clean as possible.