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Dorchester County commits to expanded Lake Marion water capacity, approves $854,902 local match
Summary
County council unanimously approved Resolution 25-05 to reserve additional water capacity from the Lake Marion Regional Water Agency and authorized a local cost share for the expansion project that increases finished plant capacity to 12.5 million gallons per day.
Dorchester County Council voted unanimously April 21 to approve Resolution 25-05, committing the county to reserve additional finished water capacity from the Lake Marion Regional Water Agency as that agency expands its treatment plant.
County Administrator Mr. Ward told the council the agency plans to increase the plant’s finished-water capacity from about 8.5 million gallons per day to 12.5 million gallons per day, and that Dorchester currently holds a 3 million gallons-per-day allocation. "With this project being substantially a 4,000,000 gallon increase, the county would be able to secure approximately 69 and a half percent of that new capacity," Ward said, and reported the county’s nonfederal match would be $854,902.13. He said the overall nonfederal share for the project is about $5,607,000.
The resolution as adopted directs the county to pay recurring costs necessary to reserve the county’s portion of the added capacity upon completion of the upgrade.
Ward described the county’s long participation with the Lake Marion Regional Water Agency, saying Dorchester has been a member "for well over 20 years" and is one of four counties and the town of Santee that participate. He said the expansion is substantially federally funded—about 75% federal to 25% local for construction—and that securing the county’s share ‘‘seems like a very smart thing to do when 75¢ out of every dollar comes from the federal government.’’
Council members linked the county’s water capacity to public safety and economic development. Ward explained that installing transmission lines and hydrants improves ISO fire-protection ratings and supports development prospects such as the Ridgeville Industrial Campus and other industrial users. Councilman Peter Smith, who read the resolution into the record, and other members thanked Ward and long-serving staff who have worked with the regional agency for decades.
The motion passed unanimously; council did not attach additional conditions in the meeting.
