Seaside Session This quarter’s Seaside Session is brought to you by Public Works.
Have you ever wondered how North Myrtle Beach keeps its waters clean and our beaches beautiful? It’s thanks to an innovative program called the Stormwater Ocean Outfall Program. This project tackles two big challenges—improving water quality and reducing inland flooding— by moving stormwater discharge pipes farther offshore, about 1,200 feet from the shoreline. Here’s How It Works: When it rains, stormwater carries bacteria and other debris into the ocean. By relocating discharge points away from the beach and into deeper waters, the program significantly lowers bacteria levels in the surf zone, making the water safer for swimmers. Plus, those old pipes you’ve seen on the beach? They’re being replaced with offshore systems that blend into the environment and work much better. Why This Matters: Cleaner Water: Offshore drainage reduces bacteria where people swim. Less Flooding: Better inland drainage systems help keep streets and properties dry. Stronger Beaches: The program protects our beach renourishment projects from stormwater damage. A Better Beach Experience: No more exposed pipes on the sand—just a cleaner, safer beach for everyone. What We’ve Accomplished So Far: Since 2002, the city has installed six ocean outfalls. The most recent outfall at 18th Avenue North was made possible with funding assistance from the state. We are improving the inland drainage system connecting near the outfall at 18th Avenue North with $7 million of additional funding from the South Carolina Office of Resilience. What’s Next? We’re already working on the next outfall locations at 17th Avenue South and 29th Avenue South, with plans for six more in the future. And to make sure the program is as effective as possible, we have a continuous water quality monitoring system in place to research and document nearshore ocean water quality improvements resulting from the outfall installations.
North Myrtle Beach is proud to lead the way in keeping our coastline clean, safe, and beautiful. It’s one more reason our beaches are a treasure for residents and visitors alike.
Winter Newsletter | 14
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online