Laurens County, LCWSC Secure $1 Million Grant for Clinton-Area Sewer Line Replacement

CDBG award will fund replacement of a 1981 force main serving more than 1,600 connections.

 In partnership with Laurens County Council, and with the assistance of the Upper Savannah Council of Governments, the Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission (LCWSC) has secured nearly $1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. This funding will support the replacement of a critical wastewater force main serving residents and businesses in the Clinton area.

 The approximately $1.19 million Beards Fork Force Main Replacement Project will address a deteriorating section of the Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission’s wastewater collection system. The project’s CDBG request totaled $999,970, with the remaining project costs expected to be supported through funding provided by LCWSC.

“Laurens County was honored to assist LCWSC in pursuing this important funding opportunity,” Jerre Threatt, Laurens County Administrator said. “Projects such as this demonstrate what can be accomplished when local governments, utilities and regional partners work together to protect essential services while making responsible use of available grant funding.”

The Beards Fork Force Main receives and transports wastewater from approximately half of the City of Clinton. The line carries an estimated 273,500 gallons of wastewater each day and supports approximately 1,525 residential and seventy-nine commercial connections.

A sewer force main is a pressurized pipeline that moves wastewater from a pump station to a higher elevation or another point in the sewer system when gravity alone cannot move the flow. Force mains are essential in areas where terrain or elevation changes make traditional gravity sewer systems impractical. 

The existing 10-inch ductile iron force main was installed in 1981. Over time, its protective cement-based interior lining has deteriorated, leaving rough and exposed surfaces where material can accumulate. This deterioration is a result of expected chemical and biological components that naturally cause breakdown overtime. That buildup has gradually restricted the pipe’s effective capacity — reducing portions of the 10-inch line to the capacity of a much smaller pipe. The loss of the protective lining has also exposed the pipe to corrosion, thinning its walls and increasing the risk of breaks. The line has now deteriorated to the point that continued repairs are no longer a dependable or cost-effective long-term solution.

 “This investment directly supports LCWSC’s commitment to providing safe, reliable and sustainable services throughout Laurens County,” Jeff Field, Executive Director said. “Replacing infrastructure before it fails helps protect our customers, the environment and the communities that depend on these systems every day.”

The proposed work includes approximately 6,900 linear feet of new 10-inch PVC force main, along necessary fittings, valves, controls, system connections, and other related construction. The project also includes rehabilitation of 37 manholes and improvements to Beards Fork wastewater pump station.

Using PVC pipe materials will help prevent similar interior deterioration, affecting this force main in the future. Pump station improvements are expected to increase operating efficiency, while manhole lining will help reduce inflow and infiltration — groundwater and stormwater that can enter the wastewater system and consume valuable treatment and conveyance capacity.

“Together, the improvements will strengthen the reliability of wastewater service for Clinton-area homes and businesses, reduce the potential for service interruptions, and help ensure the system can continue meeting the community’s needs,” said Field.

 Upper Savannah Council of Governments assisted Laurens County and LCWSC throughout the grant application process, including navigating program requirements, documentation, and scheduling.

“The Upper Savannah Council of Governments team continues to be an essential partner to Laurens County and our local service providers,” Threatt said. “Their knowledge of the grant process and commitment to our communities help make important infrastructure projects such as this possible.”

Community Development Block Grant funding is administered in South Carolina through the S.C. Department of Commerce. The federal program supports community improvements, including public infrastructure projects that principally benefit low- and moderate-income residents.

The Beards Fork project builds upon continued collaboration between Laurens County, LCWSC and Upper Savannah Council of Governments to secure outside funding for critical water and wastewater infrastructure throughout the county.