The City of Hartsville has successfully sought a $332,000 grant from the S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority to replace a vulnerable portion of its sanitary sewer main.
The 1,400-foot section of the force sewer main to be replaced, in operation since it was installed in 1965, moves all sewage in the system to the City’s Wastewater Plant. Buried underground, it passes beneath Black Creek, Hartsville’s primary waterway. The creek has gradually shifted over the years, however, unearthing the portion of the main now planned for replacement. Exposed to the creek’s waters, the main is vulnerable to hazards including flooding and floating debris. Without the improvement, any serious damage that could occur to the main might result in the release of sewage downstream.
This economically vital sewer main services 4,700 sewer customers, including those in the city and those industrial customers located outside the Town of McBee. In January 2013, an average of 1.5 million gallons of sewage moved through the main every day.
The new infrastructure to be installed, high-density polyethylene pipe, will improve safety both by burying the pipe underground, and by slightly widening the pipe’s interior from 16 inches to 17.44 inches, increasing its capacity. In addition to the $332,000 awarded for sewer construction, the City of Hartsville will contribute $50,600 for the project’s engineering and permitting costs.
The upgrade is planned to begin construction in May and be completed by the end of November.
