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Commissioners warned Keystone’s Phase 2 faces sewer-capacity limits; county cannot build a plant due to intake protections
Summary
Staff said Keystone’s Phase 2 lacks sewer approval and that Edgefield County cannot build its own wastewater plant because downstream water intakes for North Augusta/Augusta would be affected; capacity is tied to plans by North Augusta and Aiken.
Planning staff told the commission that Keystone’s Phase 2 does not yet have sewer approval and that the developer may need to wait years while capacity is addressed. Staff said Phase 1 (current construction) is moving forward and county officials do not foresee issues, but Phase 2 will require additional sewer capacity that is controlled by neighboring jurisdictions and regional authorities.
Staff explained the county cannot simply build a separate wastewater treatment plant because the Savannah River intake points for North Augusta and Augusta are downstream of potential discharge locations; regulators would not permit a county plant that would risk those intakes, staff said. Commissioners and staff discussed alternative technologies (closed-loop systems and sludge fields), but staff said those are either unpopular with the public or not practical at county scale. Staff also said the available capacity from regional plants is being retained by North Augusta and Aiken and is unlikely to be sold except in emergencies.
The commission was told staff are working with the state and regional partners on capacity planning but emphasized that infrastructure expansions are long-term projects and that Keystone’s later phases may be constrained until capacity increases are completed.
