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The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) in South Carolina provides education about water quality to local decision makers through a program initiated by Sea Grant Extension at the University of Connecticut called the National Network for Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO). Nonpoint source pollution occurs when runoff from rain, snow or irrigation systems picks up contaminants. The most common contaminants are sediment and nutrients, such as phosphates and nitrates. Chemicals, oil, bacteria and heavy metals also contribute to water quality degradation.

The NEMO program introduces local elected and appointed officials to key management techniques and concepts for understanding and controlling nonpoint source pollution. BCDCOG teaches the concepts using a three-tiered approach: focusing on planning for development and natural resource conservation together, minimizing environmental impacts through site design and mitigating unavoidable impacts through best management practices.

Because nonpoint source pollution comes from a variety of source points, it is difficult to trace pollutants to a single origin. As a result, focusing on education and outreach through programs like NEMO, rather than regulation, can be effective in restoring water quality, preventing adverse economic impacts of beach and shellfish bed closures and reducing the need to treat communities' water supply.

In 2004, Upper Savannah Council of Governments (COG) in South Carolina began the Senior Environmental Corps (SEC) project to encourage retired individuals to take part in environmental stewardship. The COG developed the project in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, which provided the initial funding. The COG is currently seeking new funding sources for future SEC projects.

SEC's major activity so far has been to raise local awareness of water quality issues. Students from Lander University in Greenwood (population 22,000) joined the senior volunteers to locate and mark storm drains in the city. The pre-printed tags and stenciled messages placed near drains warn residents not to pour anything down storm drains because they lead directly into rivers and streams. Dumping substances into drains affects the drinking water supply, swimming and recreation areas and wildlife further downstream.

The students and seniors also left water quality packets on the residents' doors. Director of Government Services Rick Green explains, "With the information from the packets, homeowners have learned what they can do at home to improve water quality. Some of the issues include fertilizing lawns or washing cars close to storm drains."

Green says that while the direct impact of the project is difficult to measure, the COG has noticed more interest in the project and in environmental quality from seniors and other residents. The project is significant to regional environmental stewardship because a study by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control's Bureau of Water indicated that many South Carolinians have little understanding of the impact that runoff pollution has on water quality.

Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments 1362 McMillan Ave, Ste 100 North Charleston, SC 29405 Tel: 843.529.0400 Fax: 843.529.0305 http://www.bcdcog.com/

Upper Savannah Council of Governments 222 Phoenix St, Ste 200, PO Box 1366 Greenwood, SC 29648 Tel: 864.941.8050 Fax: 864.941.8090 http://www.uppersavannah.com/index4.html