CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) — Water distribution stations serving the McClellanville and South Santee area have been shut off, according to the Awendaw-McClellanville Consolidated Fire District.
This service has been provided by Mount Pleasant Waterworks for 11 years, free of charge.
Mount Pleasant Waterworks constructed and operated these facilities which provide residents in the northern portion of Charleston County with access to safe drinking water.
This summer, Mount Pleasant Waterworks was informed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control that new regulations would require daily inspections versus the current weekly inspection.
This would have required Mount Pleasant Waterworks to hire a part-time operator, ultimately increasing the costs for a service being provided at no charge.
“The additional time it takes checking on these stations, created an additional cost to Mount Pleasant Waterworks far beyond the cost-effective,” according to Mount Pleasant Waterworks General Manager Clay Duffie.
Once Charleston County’s personnel passes the required operators certification the stations can reopen under the management of Charleston County’s certified operator.
In the interim, to ensure the residents have clean drinking water, Charleston County will provide a water buffalo starting on Thursday, December 14 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Awendaw Fire Station 4.
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