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Olanta reports near-complete water expansion; lead-line replacement project not yet bid
Summary
Mayor Michael W. Welch told the council the SCIIP-funded water expansion has most pipe and taps installed and should be finished this month, while a separate SRF-funded lead/copper line replacement and tank rehab on Hampton Street remains in design with no bids taken.
Olanta Mayor Michael W. Welch told the Town Council on March 5 that major work on a federally funded water expansion is nearing completion while a separate, state-funded replacement project has not yet moved to bidding.
Welch said the SCIIP grant project has 87,434 feet of the planned 94,913 feet of pipe installed and 110 of 211 service taps completed. "The pipe should be done by the end of this month," he said, adding that April through June will be used for permitting and turning water service on, after which the town will close out the grant.
The status update matters because finishing the line work and activating taps will expand service and allow the town to finalize grant reporting and closeout requirements. Completion of the SCIIP project is the immediate operational priority cited by Welch.
By contrast, Welch said the SRF grant (210006-05) for lead, copper and asbestos line replacement and water tank rehabilitation has not advanced to bidding. He told council the SRF project covers about a mile of pipe replacement on Hampton Street and that Eastern Engineering is still working on the design. "The project has not started yet; no bids have been taken," Welch said.
Council members did not take further formal action on either grant at the March 5 meeting. Next steps for the SCIIP project are permitting and activation of service, while the SRF-funded work will proceed to bid and contractor selection once design is complete.
The council also discussed, in a separate agenda item, broader water governance planning: Welch said creating a water authority is likely a multi-year process and that he is still collecting information and awaiting materials from staff to advance that option.
