ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Riverside Drive in Orangeburg will experience some closures over the next few weeks.
The Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities (DPU) says the closures are meant for safety as they clean wastewater mains.
Ryan Etheridge is the system superintendent for the Wastewater Division at the Department of Public Utilities. He says this is the perfect time for cleaning.
"During this time of year, we have lower flows than normal due to the fact that we haven't had much rainfall in the past couple of weeks,” Etheridge said. “The reason we are cleaning it out as well is to get out the material that shouldn't be in the wastewater system."
Some of those items found so far during the cleanup are rags, wipes, grease, diapers and feminine products.
Etheridge said those items can cause damage.
"When the flow goes into a wet well to be pumped up the hill, those items that are not supposed to be in the system, can damage and cause problems with our pumps such as failures," Etheridge said.
The Department of Public Utilities conducts this cleaning every five to ten years.
Crews will be out on Riverside Drive on Mondays through Thursdays for the next few weeks.