Lamar gets lowdown on its sewer system needs
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Lamar Town Council’s Jan. 14 regular meeting revealed a sort of “game plan” to tackle ongoing issues with the town’s municipal wastewater system.
Lindsey Privette of the Pee Dee Council of Governments speaks about Lamar’s municipal wastewater system.
As of last week, Lamar is again under a consent order from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, which compels the town to make necessary repairs to an aged wastewater processing plant.
“Right now, you’ve got an old plant. It’s not completely broken down, but there’s a lot that needs to be addressed and fixed,” said Lindsey Privette, economic development director with the Pee Dee Council of Governments (COG).
Privette said several new pumps are needed, some others need new motors, and the chlorine treatment system needs replacing. Engineer Glen Kirven with Davis & Brown said that an expected state allocation of $350,000 would cover about 90 percent of the wastewater system repairs.
“That would get the plant back in good shape. DHEC would be happy. It would get them off your back, but after pumping all that money into it, it would last you at best around 20 years,” said Privette.
She advised council to immediately begin setting aside funds to replace and repair the system again. Privette noted that Lamar’s sewer lines are “really old” and are in varying stages of decay. Many lines have significant inflow and infiltration, meaning stormwater gets into the pipes and flows to the treatment plant, so it is treating and processing far more water than it should be. This causes excess strain on the wastewater system and shortens the life of all components.
Privette explained that Lamar needs to think hard about whether the town can actually afford to continue operating its own wastewater system. She said that each year, labor and maintenance and testing and DHEC reporting will add up to around $140,000.
The high cost has led many small communities to sell or turn over their wastewater systems to larger agencies, like Grand Strand Water and Sewer or Darlington County Water and Sewer Authority.
Privette said the state encourages such regionalization, as this removes the “headache and stress” of continual breakdowns and expenses for small town operators.
Kirven commented that getting the water and sewer system in good shape could increase Lamar’s appeal for new business and industry.
Lamar Mayor Darnell McPherson said the town has probably already lost out on potential new business for this reason. She said a developer recently backed out of a plan to build affordable housing for seniors, and she believes the ongoing water and sewer system issues factored in their decision.
McPherson said that for now, the town will work with Pee Dee COG and try to secure $1 million in grants to bring the system into good repair. McPherson said she and members of Town Council planned to meet with representatives from DHEC and the Rural Infrastructure Authority in Columbia Jan. 16 to discuss a specific course of action.
