City secures 30 million for crucial sewer upgrades

In a recent city council meeting, officials addressed critical upgrades to the city's aging sewer system, highlighting the approval of a $30 million bond for three essential utility projects. The funding will facilitate significant improvements at the Pendleton Clemson wastewater treatment plant, enhance automated meter infrastructure for water meters, and upgrade pump stations and trunk lines.

The upgrades are particularly focused on Pump Station 5, located beside the Esso Club, and Pump Station 7, situated on Tiger Boulevard. Together, these stations serve over 10,500 residents and 380 businesses, primarily in the downtown and commercial areas. The infrastructure, originally installed in 1981, has exceeded its expected lifespan of 25 to 40 years, leading to environmental concerns, including potential sanitary sewer overflows into nearby Lake Harwell.

To address these issues, the city plans to upgrade Pump Stations 5 and 7 and increase the trunk line size from 12 inches to 18 inches. This upgrade will necessitate work through Abernathy Park and JC Park, where existing sewer lines and manholes are located beneath concrete sidewalks. City officials assured that efforts would be made to minimize disruption, particularly around the parks' pavilions and playgrounds.

The meeting underscored the importance of these upgrades for maintaining public health and environmental safety, as the city aims to modernize its infrastructure to meet current demands.