COLUMBIA, S.C. — Rural communities throughout South Carolina may soon see improvements in water and sewer services.
The S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) -- a state agency created in 2012 to assist communities with financing for qualified infrastructure projects for water and waste water systems as well as storm water drainage facilities -- has approved grant assistance for 28 projects, totaling more than $13 million. South Carolina counties applied for these projects that will help to keep critical water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure strong as communities focus on protecting public health and preparing for economic opportunities.
According to RIA, the grants will be combined with over $15.6 million in local and other funds to address pressing health and environmental concerns. Some recipients will work to correct issues with water quality, sewer overflows or frequent flooding. Others will use the funds to replace or upgrade aging infrastructure to build stronger, more resilient systems. The remaining projects will extend or improve infrastructure to serve businesses and provide economic opportunities to the local communities. Combined, these projects will benefit more than 53,000 customers in 19 counties.
A list of grant recipients for the first round of competitive grants for fiscal year 2021 is below.
- Anderson County: Sewer System Improvements, $490,000
- Barnwell, City of: Water System Improvements, $500,000
- Camden, City of: Water Line Improvements, $500,000
- Dillon, City of: Water System Improvements, $471,000
- Dorchester County: Economic Water & Sewer Infrastructure, $260,000
- Easley, City of: Drainage System Upgrades, $483,603
- Fairfield County: Economic Water Infrastructure, $500,000
- Gaffney Board of Public Works: Water System Improvements, $54,617
- Gilbert Summit Rural Water District: Water Line Improvements, $500,000
- Goose Creek, City of: Water Line Improvements, $500,000
- Greenville County/Blue Ridge Rural Water Company: Water Line Improvements, $500,000
- (Greenville) Metropolitan Sewer Subdistrict: Sewer System Improvements, $500,000
- Greenwood Commission of Public Works: Economic Water Infrastructure, $400,000
- Hartsville, City of: Water System Improvements, $500,000
- Kershaw, Town of: Water Line Improvements, $649,875
- Lake City, City of: Economic Water & Sewer Infrastructure, $497,555
- Lancaster, City of: Economic Water Infrastructure, $409,350
- Laurens Commission of Public Works: Sewer System Improvements, $500,000
- Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission: Water Line Improvements, $500,000
- Liberty, City of: Sewer System Improvements, $259,875
- Loris, City of: Economic Sewer Infrastructure, $500,000
- Lugoff-Elgin Water Authority: Economic Water Infrastructure, $900,000
- Myrtle Beach, City of: Sewer System Improvements, $500,000
- Ninety-Six Commission of Public Works: Economic Water Infrastructure, $222,200
- Olanta, Town of: Sewer System Improvements, $429,023
- Santee, Town of: Sewer System Improvements, $500,000
- Sumter, City of: Economic Water & Sewer Infrastructure, $500,000
- Williston, Town of: Water System Improvements, $500,000
To learn more about RIA or how to apply for grant assistance, visit www.ria.sc.gov.
