Watershed Facts

Spartanburg Water System uses surface water from three lakes within Spartanburg County: Lake William C. Bowen, Municipal Reservoir #1, and Lake H. Taylor Blalock. 

Map of the SWS watershed (link opens image in a new window).

Lake Bowen is a man-made lake formed by the waters of the South Pacolet River and its tributaries.  Water flows from Lake Bowen into Municipal Reservoir #1, another man-made lake.  The entire watershed for these lakes lies within the state of South Carolina in Spartanburg and eastern Greenville Counties.  Water from these lakes is treated at the R. B. Simms Water Treatment Plant, which is the largest capacity treatment plant in our system.  Lake H. Taylor Blalock is also a man-made lake formed by the combining of surplus water from the Bowen/Reservoir #1 system with the North Pacolet River and its tributaries.  Part of this watershed is in South Carolina and part is in North Carolina.  Water from Lake H. Taylor Blalock is treated at the Blalock Water Treatment Facility, which began operation in the fall of 1999.

Spartanburg is fortunate to have an exceptionally high quality source for it's drinking water, and this water source is certainly among the most valuable resources of our area.  In addition to being a high quality drinking water source, Lake Bowen and Lake Blalock also represent an outstanding recreational resource for our citizens.  To help protect and ensure continued high quality of these valuable resources, SWS pursues a vigorous program of watershed protection.

Lake Management staff perform regularly scheduled inspections of the watershed.  Inspections are conducted both from land and on the lakes themselves.  For the land-based inspections, a predetermined driving route is followed, which covers all highway accessible portions of the lakes, rivers and streams comprising the SWS water source. Routine inspections of Lake Bowen and Lake Blalock are made by boat 3 to 4 times per week.  Routine inspections of Reservoir #1 are made at least once every two weeks. SWS permits no on surface use of Reservoir #1, providing a buffer between Lake Bowen and the R. B. Simms Water Treatment Plant.  In addition to these routine inspections, Lake Management personnel make observations of the lake and shoreline on a variable schedule in conjunction with other activities.  Whenever lakes are drawn down, Lake Management staff inspect the exposed shoreline by boat for evidence of any type of improper discharge (washing machines, dishwashers, or any other source or material).

A checklist of inspection items is utilized at each inspection point to ensure consistent observation and to provide documentation of findings.  The checklist includes inspections for animal crossings or carcasses, beaver dams, run-off, silt build up, construction or other land disturbing activities, dumping of trash or other materials, unusual colors, odors or foaming, changes in vegetation or animal life, and other items. In addition to the regularly scheduled driving inspection, Lake Management staff perform informal visual inspection of portions of the watershed visible from major roads in conjunction with other activities.  Lake Management staff pick up and remove trash and other materials from various sites at all three lakes twice per week.

Inspectors communicate with SWS offices from the field.  Observation of some items such as fish kills, chemical dumping, oil slicks, animal carcasses, or excessive foaming require immediate notification of the Chief Lake Warden, the Water Resources Manager, or the Water Quality Manager.  The manager provides guidance or direction and coordinates resolution of the problem using internal or external resources.  The manager contacts outside agencies (for example SCDHEC, NCDHENR, DNR, etc.) as needed for assistance in resolving observed problems.

SWS personnel also respond to any call received regarding a reported problem in the watershed (for example, animal carcass, trash dumping, etc.).  The particular personnel to respond and the nature of the response depends on the nature of the problem.  Assistance from other appropriate agencies is enlisted as required.

SWS monitors a number of sites (currently 11) in the lakes and their tributary streams for a variety of biological and chemical parameters such as conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, hardness, metals, nutrients and various bacteria which provide information of the overall health and condition of the watershed.  These sites are included among those on the visual inspection route.  SWS also reviews data collected in its watershed by SCDHEC and other agencies.

SWS reviews its watershed surveillance program on an on-going basis.  From time to time, SWS makes changes to the sites and parameters monitored.  These changes may be based on new/anticipated regulations, treatment process considerations, data from special studies, unusual events/observations, changes in land utilization within the watershed, or other information.

SWS encourages you to do your part to help in protecting our recreational and drinking water resources.  If you would like to know more about watersheds and what you can do to help preserve and protect them, visit some of these links:

EPA "Surf Your Watershed"

EPA Drinking Water & Ground Water Kids' Stuff

SC DHEC Watershed Program

SC DHEC Source Water Protection

SC Department of Natural Resources

SC Beach Sweep / River Sweep

Thanks to John Westcott, Spartanburg Water System/Spartanburg Sanitary Sewer District’s Water Quality Manager for the above information

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