Aiken City Council Advances Water Treatment Facility Project to Replace Aging Infrastructure

Aiken City Council Keeps Progressing on Water Treatment Facility Project

Aiken, S.C. – The city of Aiken is moving closer to replacing its aging water treatment facility, which has served the community for over 70 years. During a recent City Council meeting, city leaders received updates on the progress of the new water treatment facility project. City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh expressed optimism about the future, saying, “This is going to be something that the community over the next 50-75 years is going to grow, and we have to be cognizant of that and keep pace.”

From April until now, the focus of the project has been on obtaining five necessary permits to begin construction. Tony Reid, a representative from Goodwyn Mills & Cawood, reported that most of the permits are already secured. The project managers have successfully received approvals from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Reid mentioned, “The majority of the permits are obtained, and we’re waiting on two. Those two are outstanding–they’ve been submitted, but we’re just waiting for responses.”

The remaining permits are the Encroachment Permit from Santee Cooper and the Site Building and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits from Aiken County.

Features of the New Facility

The new facility promises several upgrades over the current structure. Planned features include a chemical building, alterations to the dam, modifications to the pumping station, and additional on-site storage. Reid emphasized the importance of upgrading the utility building, stating, “What we’re going to be able to do is provide a facility that allows the city staff a place that they feel confident coming to work–which I think sometimes is huge, when you give somebody a place that they look forward to going to.”

Cost and Funding Sources

The total cost for the facility is estimated at around $66 million. Bedenbaugh shared details of the funding sources, explaining, “We got a $10 million grant from the state of South Carolina, a $27 million low-interest loan from the state’s Rural Infrastructure Authority, and we issued about $32 million worth of bonds.” He noted that the city will be repaying these bonds and the loan over a 30-year period, which is within the expected lifespan of the new plant.

Benefits for the Community

Once completed, the new facility will be capable of treating 8 million gallons of water per day, an increase from the current capacity of 5 million gallons. This expansion is essential for providing the community with better access to clean drinking water. Reid shared his motivations for being in the water industry, saying, “It’s one of the things that got me into the water industry because not everybody has access to safe drinking water across the world.”

He added that the new plant would be more efficient in water treatment and energy use, stating, “This plant is going to be state-of-the-art, and will meet our needs for providing water to our service area for decades to come.”

Timeline for Construction

The goal for the city is to obtain all necessary permits by the end of September. If all goes well, groundbreaking could happen shortly after that. Reid confirmed that the project remains on track, estimating that construction would take around two years. This timeline suggests that the new facility could be operational by the end of 2026.

As Aiken prepares for this major infrastructure upgrade, community members can reflect on the progress being made toward a safer, more efficient water treatment system that will serve the city for years to come.