the truth about "lagoons"

.

OK, folks, here’s the deal:

1. DHEC-OCRM’s regulations allow for shallow ponds, with resulting dense aquatic growth. This is perfectly acceptable to DHEC:

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

(DHEC-OCRM’s regulations cover stormwater management (SWM) ponds in all sorts of settings, and for all sorts of projects: residential, industrial, agricultural, roads, etc.)

2. The function of SWM ponds is to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff before it pollutes downstream waters. Filtering pollutants from stormwater is hardly consistent with what one would consider an aesthetic “amenity”.

3. It’s Pulte who characterizes these SWM ponds as “lagoons”, and sells them (lot premiums) as amenities.

4. YOU are contributing to the problem by over fertilizing your lawns.

So, if you’re upset about how your lagoon looks, don’t blame DHEC-OCRM. Their regulations don’t distinquish between “lagoons” in residential developments and pollutant-filtering SWM ponds on an industrial site. Blame Pulte, who knows better, and sold you “a bill of goods” anyway. And stop over fertilizing your lawns.

Another fact to consider:

5. Pulte did a VERY POOR job building Phase 5 lagoons:

* Comparing as-built elevations to elevations called for on the approved construction plans, tops are too low and bottoms are too high by ONE AND TWO FEET--an ASTOUNDING amount to be off in such a flat area
* Missing embankments
* Missing or poorly constructed spillways
* No freeboard
* Missing weir
* Leaking control structures
* Steep and eroding slopes

VERY SHODDY.

.


.