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County Closing in on Utility Projects

Posted on: Sunday, 25 September 2005, 18:00 CDT

Sep. 24--Richland County officials are optimistic the county will land about $20 million in grant money that would pave the way for a new water and sewer system in Lower Richland.

Construction on a water supply system could begin as early as Jan. 1, if a $4.9 million U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development grant is approved.

"Initial indications are that they will fund this system," said Andy Metts, Richland County utilities director.

The new systems would put an end to water contamination problems that have plagued some Lower Richland neighborhoods for decades.

The plans also hinge on a deal with Richland 1 school district. And the district is very interested in collaborating, said Robert B. Chestnut, interim senior associate for district management services.

"We have had some discussion with folks from the school to talk about transferring the well systems at Hopkins Elementary and Hopkins Middle School and also eventually the wastewater treatment plants at both those schools to the county," Metts said.

The wells have the capacity to serve the entire area, but a new wastewater treatment plant would need to be built, Metts said.

The water system is the first priority, fueled by longtime concerns of poor water quality in the Franklin Park and Albene Park neighborhoods and 35 homes whose water supplies have been contaminated by leaking fuel tanks.

The second priority is a wastewater treatment system for the area. The county is optimistic about its application for $14.3 million in additional USDA rural development grant money to build a regional wastewater treatment system, Metts said.

And C.W. Haynes Co. is negotiating with the county to turn over 78 acres for the future regional sewage treatment plant, said county spokeswoman Kendall Johnson. C.W. Haynes executive Bill Sellars confirmed that negotiations are under way.

Haynes executives once owned the water and sewer system for Franklin Park. Richland County recently took over those operations from Piney Grove Utilities.

A potential county takeover of school water-treatment systems has Richland 1 school officials elated. They're eager to be rid of the utilities, since they are costly to operate and the wastewater treatment systems have been pinned with DHEC violations in recent years.

A 2002 violation at Hopkins Elementary requires that the system be shut down and that a costly pipeline be installed to connect the school to city utilities. That project is on hold pending the outcome of a new county sewer system.

The sticking point for the district in striking a deal with the county may be money. School board members don't want to pay costly utility fees.

"The county is the best-suited to make sure that all of Richland County has adequate sewer services and adequate drinking water," said board member Wendy Brawley. "What we're most concerned about is that in providing the services to the schools in that area, the district isn't charged a fee."

School board chairman Jasper Salmond said the deal could manifest itself in a number of ways, including a land trade, a simple purchase, a lease or an outright donation.

A regional sewer and water system could benefit the district in the long term, Salmond said.

"What'll happen is it'll open up possibilities for residential development," he said.

More houses would mean more tax revenue and more students, Salmond said.

For now, though, County Councilwoman Bernice G. Scott said the county's goal is to get clean water into existing homes.

"Right now, my focus is on the constituents," Scott said. "If growth and development would come with that, that would be great."

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Source: The State (Columbia, S.C.)

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