GEORGETOWN, S.C. —  An environmental permit that will put treated sewage water from DeBordieu in the Waccamaw River was approved, despite repeated requests from residents and environmentalists to deny it.

Officials with Georgetown County Water and Sewer District said there will only be a small amount of treated water going into the river.

The plan will only be used in times of excessive rainfall, said Bob Barker, director of the Water and Sewer District.

The plan is also meant to keep the excess treated sewage water from getting into North Inlet. The water is now used on the golf course at DeBordieu.

The community, however, said they have too much waste water to spray on the golf course and they are concerned some of it will seep into North Inlet.

“We think this is a positive in terms of water quality,’’ Barker said. “It should not have an impact on the river. It would only be used for overflow in times of excessive rainfall.’’

According to information from DHEC, the permit application will become effective on March 1.

The matter could still be appealed within the next 15 days, according to DHEC. DHEC then has 60 days to review the appeal.

The Waccamaw River is already showing signs of dissolved oxygen in some locations, according to environmental groups protecting the river.

The area where the discharge will take place does not have problems with low oxygen levels, according to DHEC.

“We have reviewed water quality monitoring data upstream of the proposed discharge,’’ DHEC stated. “The data indicates that the Waccamaw River is meeting water quality standards at this location.”

The plan will protect shellfish downstream, according to DHEC. The plan also protects the river for recreational uses.

Officials with the Waccamaw River Keeper program said they are not surprised about the decision to approve the permit.

Waccamaw River Keeper Christine Ellis said they will be closely watching the river to see if it can absorb the additional discharge.

She does not know if there will be an appeal of the decision to grant the permit.

“We probably will not appeal, but I have to raise that to the board,’’ she said. “It’s not unexpected. It was reasonably clear there was support for the application.”

During the permit application process, questions arose about whether the permit would protect the river.

Richard Moore, president of the Winyah Rivers Foundation, said the permit left many questions hanging.

“The permit did not answer many questions,’’ Moore said late last year. “Without that information, I find it hard to see how anyone could arrive at a decision to approve this permit.’’

Officials from the Baruch Marine Laboratory, the Coastal Conservation League and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources approved of the plan.

“Having reviewed the project, we don’t have a problem with it,’’ said DNR biologist Priscilla Wendt.

“I think our issues have been resolved. We have a number of e-mail exchanges with people at DHEC. It is intended to protect North Inlet.”

North Inlet is considered a highly protected body of water, according to DHEC. No amount of discharge is allowed in North Inlet.

The area where the  effluent will be piped in the Waccamaw River is not under a special pollution management plan from DHEC.

A portion of the Waccamaw River, however, has already come under scrutiny by DHEC after samples showed some pollution.

DHEC put together a plan to improve water quality.

By Kelly Marshall Fuller

Kfuller@gtowntimes.com