The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) supported by Volkswagen and Emergen-C Blue ® is the Surfrider Foundation’s volunteer-run, water testing, education and advocacy program. Locally we test the water at the Folly Beach boat landing once a week and post our results on the Surfrider National website. Check out the past results here
We are testing the water for enterococcus, a fecal coliform bacteria indicator, so we can make sure the water of the Folly River is safe for the kayak and SUP tours launched from the Folly Beach boat landing.
Testing samples
Here at Folly Beach, (and everywhere else in the Lowcountry) our storm drains dump directly into the nearest waterway. The storm drains along Center St. at Folly all flow out to the marsh at the Folly River Park which is evident by the amount of trash found time after time around the outflow pipe. In the fall of 2013 in conjunction with the Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium we did a storm drain marking project and attached metal medallions saying "No Dumping, Drains to Waterway" at every storm drain on Center St.
Storm drain medallion
We are hoping that people seeing the results of our tests and our storm drain markers will get them thinking about what goes into our local waters and how they can help reduce the amount of pollutants entering those waters.
If you have any questions regarding the Blue Water Task Force program here at the Charleston Chapter you can contact the BWTF coordinator, Marty Morganello at mmorganello@gmail.com
Keep our waterways clean and healthy!
As clean water becomes an increasingly scarce resource, Volkswagen and Emergen-C Blue are committed to supporting, enhancing and extending the efforts of the Blue Water Task Force. Additionally, for every box of Emergen-C Blue sold, 20 cents is donated directly to the BWTF to further the important work it is doing to improve water quality.