LAURENS COUNTY - The Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission is moving forward with a $2.0 million upgrade at the Clinton-Joanna Wastewater Treatment Plant following the Commission's October 27 approval of a resolution accepting $1.94 million in assistance through South Carolina's State Revolving Fund (SRF) program.
The assistance is structured as principal forgiveness and represents nearly 97.5percent of the project's estimated $1,986,419 cost. LCWSC's estimated share is $49,519. Under the funding terms, the assistance will not accrue interest, and the principal will be forgiven upon satisfactory compliance with the agreement's requirements.
"Maintaining reliable wastewater service means reinvesting in the equipment our operators depend on every day," said Jeff Field, LCWSC Executive Director. "This funding allows us to make important improvements at our Clinton-Joanna wastewater treatment facility while covering a substantial share of the cost with outside assistance."
Plans call for four floating aerators in the existing equalization basin, variable-speed controls for the basin's pump station, and a new control panel for the plant's return activated sludge pump station. The new panel will use flow-meter readings to regulate the existing pumps. New equipment also will be installed in existing Clarifiers No. 1 and No. 2.
Equalization basins help manage variations in wastewater flow, while clarifiers allow solids to settle out during treatment. The upgrades will replace clarifier equipment and update controls within the plant's existing treatment system.
The project also includes design of a future disinfection system to be constructed once the pilot testing is complete. The overall project completion date is anticipated for 1st quarter of 2028.
The wastewater investment comes as LCWSC reports more than $21.3 million in grants received during FY25, FY26 and the first three months of FY27. The same report identifies additional committed funding for future projects including water and sewer improvements in Joanna and Gray Court, rehabilitation of the Bush River gravity sewer system, and a new 2.0MG clearwell at the Lake Greenwood Water Treatment Facility. These projects reflect continued investment in the infrastructure serving our local communities.
