Beaufort‑Jasper water authority details $600M CIP, 10% rate increase and capacity‑fee plan

Charlie Stone, director of government affairs for the Beaufort‑Jasper Water and Sewer Authority, told the Beaufort County council workshop that the regional utility is confronting rapid population growth and strained treatment capacity and has approved a $600 million capital improvement program covering fiscal years 2025–2027.

Stone said BJWSA serves roughly 67,000 water and 48,000 sewer connections across about 750 square miles and that the system recently hit a summer consumption high of about 35.6 million gallons per day of roughly 39 million gallons of plant capacity. To address the pressure on the system, the authority’s board approved a CIP that Stone said is about 65% growth‑related, 17% rehab and replacement and 16% improvements to existing infrastructure.

The most immediate projects include an expansion at the Prairiesburg water treatment plant — increasing capacity from 15 million to 30 million gallons per day with a target completion next July — a Cherry Point wastewater expansion that would permit 11.25 million gallons per day, and a new 1.5‑million‑gallon elevated storage tank at Buckwalter scheduled for April 2025. Stone told the workshop that about $45 million of the CIP is tied to military installation infrastructure improvements.

To help fund the work, Stone said BJWSA increased customer rates on July 1 by roughly 10%. Using the example the authority provided, a household that previously paid $60.31 for a typical 3,000‑gallon water and sewer bill would now pay about $66.13. In addition to rates, BJWSA relies on capacity fees for new development; Stone said the authority has been studying those fees with consultant input and will take recommended changes to a public hearing on Aug. 20.

Stone attributed recent water discoloration and pressure complaints primarily to peak simultaneous demand. He said the authority plans unidirectional flushing and valve maintenance to reduce discolored water reports and that the Prairiesburg expansion should relieve pressure during summer peaks. BJWSA also offered on‑site testing and lab results to residents who remain concerned.

The presentation included a question‑and‑answer period in which residents and elected officials pressed staff about tap fees, operational coordination (for example, scheduling taps and paving), and the timeline for community projects. Stone said some projects have grant funding that waived resident tap fees for early signups and that the authority is pursuing federal and state funding for underserved communities.