Metropolitan Sewer Subdistrict to Begin Construction of the Piedmont Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project
December 15, 2011
Full-scale renovations of the 100-year old sewer system set to start in January 2012
Piedmont, SC – December 14, 2011 – Metropolitan SewerSubdistrict (Metro) and Piedmont Public Service District (PPSD) are pleased toannounce that $7.9 million in funding necessary to begin full-scalerehabilitation of the Piedmont Sewer System has been secured. Without thesupport and participation by Piedmont residents this project would not have cometo fruition in such a short period of time. The project is now set to beginconstruction in early January 2012 under full ownership of Metro.
“We at Metro appreciate the response of the Piedmontcommunity. We pledge to serve Piedmont in the highest of standards both now andin the future, as we work toward providing a new and improved sanitary sewersystem for its residents,” said Jim Freeland, Chairman of the Metro Commission.“We are encouraged by the cooperation and support we received from all partiesinvolved, and look forward to a continued supportive effort in the transition tothe new system.”
Metro secured the ability to move forward with the repairsafter satisfying the South Carolina Clean Water State Revolving Fund’srequirements for funding. Those requirements included the acquisition ofright-of-way/easements from approximately 200 property owners served by thecurrent Piedmont Sewer System. These rights of ways were vital in updating thecentury-old system and were obtained in a short period of time with thecooperation of Piedmont residents.
Ed Poore, Chair of Piedmont’s Board of Commissioners, noted,“Our supportive residents really made the difference in the success of obtainingthe funding for this project. We are very excited that Piedmont will be servedby an improved sewer system once the rehabilitation construction iscompleted.”
Currently, the Piedmont sewer system is over 100 years old,with substantial portions of construction dating back to the 1800s. The system’sboundaries straddle the Anderson/Greenville county line requiring approvals fromboth the Anderson County Council and the Greenville County Council to make thisproject a reality. Both Metro and Piedmont are grateful to these entities fortheir support, cooperation and encouragement through this process. The SCDepartment of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) made this project and thetransfer of ownership from Piedmont to Metro possible by providing funding forthe rehabilitation of the existing system.
This funding relieves the financial burden from the system’scustomers for the rehabilitation and the average property owner is expected toreceive annual savings in taxes and fees from the transfer of the system toMetro. The upgrades will increase overall efficiency of the system and result inpotential energy and wastewater treatment cost savings of a quarter milliondollars. Additionally, the rehabilitation will contribute to the improvedwater quality of the Saluda River by reducing sewer system overflows andexfiltration of wastewater.
The transfer of ownership of the system was made possiblethrough an Intergovernmental Agreement between Metro and Piedmont which statesthat the Piedmont Sewer System will be consolidated into the Metro Districtensuring continuous maintenance and a commitment to provide the higheststandards of service to the Piedmont community. The Piedmont Public ServiceDistrict will continue to provide services including fire protection, streetlighting and recreation.
“We are excited to be able to work with districts likePiedmont who are facing issues with failing sanitary sewer collection systems.It is our goal to aid subdistricts in need of assistance by securing funding andproviding the management to implement necessary upgrades,” said Jim Gregorie,Vice Chairman of the Metro Commission. “We at Metro dedicate ourselves toproviding sustainable wastewater solutions throughout the communities we serveas well as our other local subdistricts”.
About Piedmont
The Piedmont Public Service District of Anderson andGreenville Counties provides fire protection, street lighting and recreation toits residents. The special purpose district is governed by a five member boardof commissioners elected by the community’s citizens.
About Metro
The Metropolitan Sewer Sub-District (Metro) is a specialpurpose district created by the state legislature in 1968 to operate andmaintain sanitary sewer facilities. Today, Metro serves approximately 60,000taxpayers with more than 620 miles of sanitary sewer collector lines and isgoverned by a five member board of commissioners. This collection systemtransports wastewater from area homes and businesses to ReWa’s trunk lines and15 major wastewater treatment plants. Metro’s 168-square mile service areastretches from northern Greenville County in the Travelers Rest area to thesouthern portions of the county, from Pelham and Woodruff Roads to LaurensCounty and southwest to Piedmont in Anderson and Greenville County.
