Laurens County Awarded Grant for Upgrading Joanna Water Treatment Plant

Laurens County has received a hefty grant from the South Carolina Department of Commerce to fund the finishing stages of upgrades to the county’s southern wastewater treatment plant in Joanna. The grant, worth $1.618 million, was one of 10 announced by the Department of Commerce, outshining the rest as the largest award.

Efforts to Improve Wastewater Treatment

The Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission (LCWSC) has been granted the funds to assist the final steps of technological improvements at the Joanna treatment plant. LCWSC Executive Director, Jeff Field, has described the grant as a “huge win,” not only for the commission, but also for Clinton and the southern regions of the county.

This award is a crucial portion of a project that kicked off five years ago, aiming to secure long-term funding. A Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) has already financed Phase 1 of the venture, focusing heavily on transitioning the treatment plant’s approach to bio-solid waste treatment. The yet-to-come Phase 2 will ensure the facility is less labor-intensive, more cost-effective, and fosters sustainable growth due to technological upgrades.

Proactive Changes to Waste Management

The current wastewater treatment method leverages drying tables, a system Field criticizes for its labor-intensive nature and high costs. Upon finalization of both phases, bio-solid waste will be stored and processed in tanks, ensuring easier, more efficient handling of waste material.

Alongside these system upgrades will come extended capacity for the treatment plant, which is expected to meet the increasingly growing demand within Laurens County.

Increase In County’s Infrastructure

Brown Patterson, Laurens County Council Chairman, called the investment “vital for eastern part of the county’s infrastructure,” as the county continues to grow and requires more complex systems to handle increasing demands.

Patterson expressed his gratitude for the county’s selection as one of the few to receive funding in spring 2024. He emphasized that the project will significantly improve quality of life in the Joanna area with its wastewater treatment plant advancements.

A Two-Phase Project and the Road Ahead

Originally designed as a single-phase venture, inflation and supply chain issues resulting from the COVID pandemic doubled the project’s initial cost. Phase 1, anticipated for completion in about six months, has already been funded by grants in 2023. Phase 2 of the project, now possible due to the recent grant, will follow suit.

The two-phase plan consists of constructing an above-ground tank in the first phase and an identical tank in the second phase. The two-tank system will enable alternating operation to ensure continual service while mitigating downtime.

Field explained that the LCWSC would start seeking bids as early as the grant paperwork is finished with the state. In conclusion, he reiterated the significance of this project for Laurens County, pointing out that it will optimize efficiency and cost-effectiveness of waste handling and will facilitate further expansion of the facility.