Olanta to replace aging parts of water, sewer systems

OLANTA — Olanta officials are making plans to replace aging water wells and sewage lift stations with grant and stimulus money the town has received.

Mayor Betty Sims said clean water and a reliable sewer system are important for the quality of life of town residents as well as the town’s industries and future growth.

“It’s the priority, the top of our list,” she said.

The town’s maintenance worker discovered about two weeks ago that the motors on the lift station on Alice Meyers Drive, off S.C. 341, had failed, Sims said in a previous interview. Professional Pump and Well of Florence, however, had made most of the repairs by Wednesday morning to prevent the sewers from backing up, she said.

While one pump is up and running, the town is waiting on a quote for parts for the other pump before determining whether to repair or replace the pump, Sims said Thursday.

Olanta has the funds to get the lift station back up and running, she said — $100,000 in competitive grant money that state Rep. Phillip Lowe and state Sen. John Land helped the town obtain.

Earlier this month, Florence County Council voted to approve the town’s request to use about $6,000 in county infrastructure funds for emergency work on the sewer lift station on Alice Meyers Drive.

The county money had originally been approved for a water line, Florence County Administrator Richard Starks said the day of council’s vote.

Olanta leaders also plan to replace the town’s main lift station, at Avondale Drive, and build a new station at S.C. 341 and South Powell Street, Sims said. For the new lift station, the town has purchased nearly one-fifth of an acre for $2,200 from Mack Arthur and Andrew Beard.

The town also has received $600,000 in federal stimulus money to replace its two water wells.

Jimmy Laws of Professional Pump and Well told council in February that his company had performed about $21,000 worth of repairs to one well after a local factory complained of “fine, silty sand” in its water supply. He also said one of the town’s wells had been installed about 40 years ago.

Sims said Thursday that the town has received reports of rusty-looking water, but that the town hadn’t received any more complaints in the past week.

Olanta Town Council voted earlier this year to approve a $4 increase to the town’s base water rates.

That money would go toward reducing debt since Olanta made repairs to the main water tank, and it would also help the town repay a $43,000 tax anticipation note from The Citizens Bank.

The remaining $2 of the increase, meanwhile, could be placed in the town’s sewer reserve fund, where it would be used only in case of an emergency, Mayor Betty Sims said last month.