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LCWSC Announces Upgrade to Bush River Regional WWTP

Submitted by: Lauren Knight on Aug 12, 2011 at 6:30 pm Tagged with: Greenville, Laurens county, wastewater, water conservation Source: Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission

News Release
For Immediate Release

Contact:
Jeff Field
(864) 682-6516
jfield@lcwsc.com

Meeting the needs of residents and economic development

The Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission (LCWSC) announces plans to upgrade the Bush River Wastewater Treatment Plant that currently serves over 15,000 people in Laurens County, including the City of Clinton, Clinton Corporate Industrial Park, and the Laurens County Hospital. This system upgrade will allow LCWSC to replace the older system with more efficient equipment, provide a higher level of treatment service to its customers, and prepare for future economic development in the area.

The treatment plant has been in operation for more than 30 years and much of the technology currently being used is now out-dated. The diligent efforts of the LCWSC staff have been successful in consistently meeting the stringent limits set forth by DHEC and EPA; however, due to the ever-increasing requirements of these limits, the system in its current capacity will not meet future discharge restrictions.

LCWSC began developing a long-term plan for the upgrade in 2008 with the ultimate goal to expand the daily capacity of the plant from 2.75 million gallons per day (MGD) to 4.0 MGD, which will allow the LCWSC to work with other County leaders to attract more industry to the area and bring more jobs to community. The project will include improvements to remove fine debris, a liquid lime feed system for improved pH adjustment, a large equalization basin for high flow events, new energy efficient aeration basins, a new plant generator, new chlorine contact/post aeration chamber, and new septage receiving station for septic tank haulers and new electrical controls for most plant components.

The total project cost is estimated at $6,000,000 and will take approximately 2 years to complete. The LCWSC Board of Commissioners has approved the terms for funding this project from the USDA Rural Development. Funding will consist of a $1,979,000 USDA Grant and a revenue bond (USDA Loan) in the amount of $4,021,000, at 3.375% for 40 years. USDA Rural Development Anderson Area Office played an integral role in bringing this project to fruition and LCWSC thanks them for their efforts. The Bush River WWTP upgrade represents one of the largest projects funded by the USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Program in the State of South Carolina for this current year.

This decision by the Board is consistent with the LCWSC Water Resource Master Plan and is an important milestone in allowing the LCWSC to meet the future sewer service needs of Laurens County.

About LCWSC

Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission (LCWSC) is committed to providing clean and safe water and wastewater services to Laurens County and portions of southern Greenville County. LCWSC develops infrastructure to provide for the economic growth of the area, while continuing to protect the environment and public health. LCWSC is also dedicated to keeping its customers informed through educational programs that will encourage environmental stewardship and improve the quality of life of every resident. For more information about LCWSC please visit www.lcwsc.com.

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