Talking about water quality isn’t most people’s idea of the ideal ice breaker. In the Lowcountry (loosely defined as coastal South Carolina and Georgia), folks typically find common ground discussing the region’s warm weather, great food, vibrant culture and remarkable history.  But water quality is quickly becoming the talk of the town as locals are growing concerned about how sea level rise and increased rainfall amounts are impacting their local water quality. With more than 50 days of tidal flooding each year overwhelming Charleston’s sewer system, people are talking about water quality concerns over bacteria levels in floodwaters.

I waded into the topic two weeks ago at a coastal acidification and water quality workshop with South Carolina and Georgia fishermen, shellfish farmers, scientists, water quality experts, community advocates and other stakeholders. Although ocean acidification is fundamentally caused by carbon dioxide emissions, local sewage runoff can worsen acidification near the coasts. The good news is that by addressing local runoff, we can help reduce nearshore acidification. There are many land-based sources of acidification, including leaky septic tanks, overwhelmed sewer systems, pet waste, farm runoff pollution, urban sprawl and increased rainfall. These sources bring excess nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon and bacteria to coastal waterways, setting the stage for algae blooms followed by bacteria that digest the blooms and exhale carbon dioxide. This changes the water chemistry by lowering the water pH, and increasing acidity levels.

Awareness of acidification is growing nationwide, but my fellow workshop attendees agreed that there’s a lot more work to be done to address it in the Lowcountry. During the workshop, scientists in the room highlighted the need for accurate and advanced water chemistry monitoring to detect acidification. Attendees also noted the need for education about acidification’s negative impacts to shellfish, fish, marine habitat, and even the tourism industry in the region.  Together, we also identified another hurdle: acute water quality and environmental issues are the main focus for managers, environmental advocates and businesses, but not necessarily acidification. Other issues are also higher priorities, such as hurricane storm surges and environmental justice for minority communities, such as the Gullah Geechee, living in the path of these environmental hazards.

While this list of priorities might seem at odds to addressing acidification, the workshop participants recognized that fighting acidification actually provides another reason to address coastal water quality and runoff pollution. This means that communities do not need to change priorities, but some thoughtfully planned interventions can address both acidification and water quality at the same time. For instance, restoring oyster reefs in estuaries in both states reduces storm surge impacts, protects coastlines from erosion, creates fish habitat and removes excess nitrogen and other nutrients from the water.  All that also reduces acidification and its impacts to the local ecosystem by reducing the production of carbon dioxide in the water, and because the chemical compounds of oyster shells can help neutralize acidification as well.

It’s clear that stakeholders in the South are becoming increasingly concerned and active on acidification alongside other water quality concerns. As these practical water quality measures continue to be developed, we’re pleased to partner with people we may not have met otherwise. The shared goal of great water quality is something we can all agree on!