In keeping with Walterboro’s location in a region experiencing explosive residential and commercial growth, its expanded wastewater treatment plant allows  service to new developments along Interstate 95 and Colleton Mega Site on South Carolina Highway 64, making the region much more competitive for industrial development. The plant has more than doubled its capacity, moving from 2.64 million gallons per day to 5.625.  

Aimed at keeping the headwaters of the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto rivers basin safe, the state-of-the-art expansion includes new sequencing-batch reactors, a new grit removal system, new influent pumping station and new tertiary filter basins. The $38.4 million cost involved is vastly greater than the City of Walterboro’s entire general fund and enterprise fund budgets. As the projected costs grew, the city partnered with the Lowcountry Council of Governments to seek grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, with city councilmembers advocating for the funding needs in Washington, D.C. The city also coordinated with the Colleton County Economic Alliance and the SC Regional Development Alliance on forthcoming industrial projects. Funding included $25.7 million in EDA grants and $12.7 million in city funds from water and sewer revenue bonds.  

Further steps in the expansion will include a new emergency generator for the plant, as well as new solar sludge drying beds. 

Contact Jeffrey Molinari at jmolinari@walterborosc.org or 843.782.1011.