City of Myrtle Beach Stormwater Management Master Plan and Final Design for Upgrade and Replacement of Beach Outfalls

摘要

The City of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has evolved over the past three (3) decades as one of the most popular beach resorts on the East Coast of the United States with more than 14 million visitors annually. Stormwater management for the City has consisted of some seventy-nine (79) outfall pipes leading to the beach, coupled with natural swashes which collect stormwater from inland areas. The beach outfalls are unsightly and cause erosion of the natural beach. In addition, the stormwater transmits bacteria to the beach during and immediately after a rainfall event. In spite of these problems the City had taken no action to find alternatives to eliminate these pipes due to the significant expense and because no citizen or visitor had ever become ill due to contact with the stormwater from these pipes. The City was forced to reexamine their position in 1997. The Clean Water Act of 1972 effectively strengthened existing laws and regulations to prevent, reduce or control water pollution. This paper will present the thought process, political issues, regulatory/environmental obstacles and the results of this large scale stormwater management replacement and revitalization Project.