Lamar receives $350,000 for water system repairs
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Local government officials and interested community members gathered at the Lamar library last Monday to receive a $350,000 check intended to repair the town’s aged wastewater system.
“The Honorable Gerald Malloy of the S. C. Senate has negotiated tirelessly to provide funding to address the infrastructure needs of the town of Lamar,” said Mayor Darnell Byrd McPherson. “Sen. Malloy continues to provide guidance and support in as many ways as possible to the communities in Darlington County and throughout District 29.”
Malloy was on hand to deliver the check, the second appropriation he has secured in recent years to help with Lamar’s water troubles.
Malloy previously delivered $467,000 to help jumpstart repairs to the town’s water system. The $350,000 could not come at a better time, since South Carolina DHEC (Department of Health and Environmental Control) had just that day issued another consent order to the Town of Lamar that addresses procedural and operational issues related to the drinking water system.
Lamar has 30 days to make the necessary corrections and also faces potential fines if they are not able to comply with the findings. This represents the second consent order issued by DHEC. The previous order addressed the high level of radium in the water. Paula Brown of DHEC presented an overview of the water system issues in December at the regular Town Council meeting. Lamar residents were able to hear firsthand about the deficiencies in the system’s operation and management.
The town currently contracts with Darlington County Water and Sewer Authority to provide drinking water and associated upkeep and maintenance of the system. McPherson says that Frank Hough, director of DCWSA, has assigned a staff person to workspecifically in the Town of Lamar to provide needed professional services. Through a contractual agreement, DCWSA maintains the system as follows: repairing leaks or water line breaks, maintaining pump stations, and helping bring the town’s operational procedures into compliance with DHEC regulations.
“The Town of Lamar is like a great number of communities across the United States and particularly in South Carolina, which are operating with systems which have exceeded their life expectancy. Yet small towns do not have the revenue to make the significant investment required to upgrade to more move equipment,” explained McPherson.
“The investments needed can be secured through some state and federal grants as well as through revolving loans.
These resources are not as plentiful as they were in years past and many are awarded on a competitive basis.
Nevertheless, Lamar is committed to putting forth an aggressive effort to replace, repair and upgrade its infrastructure. The town is working closely with the Regional Council of Governments and the Lathan Consulting Corporation. Efforts are also being made to connect with potential resources of Clemson University.”
Lamar also contracts with Davis and Brown Engineering for drinking water testing and monitoring and testing of the wastewater system. Mayor McPherson says the Office of Rural Water, a division of DHEC, is working with Town Council to ensure their plans will address the critical aspects of both systems.
“We remain optimistic and project a bright future for our community,” said McPherson. “We expect with the needed infrastructure improvements, we will be able to attract new businesses and industries as well as many families who want to live in a community with promise and potential.”
“Clean air, clean water and good education are sacrosanct. It’s not something we should end up having to bargain for, it’s something we are entitled to,” added Malloy.
Lamar Town Council meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 6:15 p.m. inside Town Hall, 117 Main Street. These meetings are open to the public.
