COLUMBIA, S.C. —
After nine years, repair work continues on the Columbia Canal. On the anniversary of the 1,000 flood, which damaged the canal, City of Columbia leaders gave an update on several major projects.
“We are proud to announce the major progress on our efforts to repair not only the damage to this historic canal and this historic hydro plant, but the investment in multiple projects that make us stronger and more resilient,” Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said.
The Columbia Canal was hit hard by the 2015 flood, with a major breach in the canal’s embankment and damages to the headgates.
Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and other city officials held a press conference Friday next to the canal to detail several projects that will soon get underway.
“Our recovery would not be complete without each of these three projects. We like to refer to it as our three-legged stool of resilience, and again, we're not stable and we're not where we want to be unless we construct and complete all three of these projects,” said Clint Shealy, an assistant city manager with Columbia.
Starting next August, repairs will begin on the embankment where the breach occurred. The existing embankment will be removed, and the breach area will be reconstructed. The city’s hydroelectric plant will also be renovated. At the same time, the canal’s headgates will be prepared or replaced.
The third project is the resilient water supply, which will provide a new water intake on the Congaree River. It will supply up to 80 million gallons of water a day and will minimize reliance on the canal.
The canal is the main water supply for Columbia, and being able to provide a secondary water supply to the city has some residents hopeful.
“We need to provide services for those people, and water is a very basic commodity that people can't live with[out]. I think that one of the reasons why we have authorities in cities to provide those services for our citizens,” said Carlton Larmon, a West Columbia resident.
The resilient water supply project will start at the beginning of December and construction will last 30 months.
“These projects highlight the ability for the Columbia canal projects to meet, exceed recovery, rebuilds. This project also showcases the strength, the determination of the city of Columbia to rebuild in the face of challenges. It not only addresses immediate needs by repairing the critical infrastructure, but it also looks forward to the future,” said Stephen Batson with S.C. Emergency Management Division.
Mayor Rickenmann says that the total funding of the recovery will cost around 120 million dollars, 100 of that is coming from federal and state agencies.
City officials will start open bids for the resilient water supply project next Thursday. This will be the first step in the construction.