Beaufort-Jasper authority details AllJoy sewer plan and $7.1M funding already secured

Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority officials updated the committee on the AllJoy sewer-extension project, describing a focused effort to address repeated septic-system failures in low-elevation parcels near the May River watershed. The authority said project planning targets roughly 200 homes and estimated construction costs in the neighborhood of $15 million for the full system; $7.1 million currently has been allocated from a mix of local and regional sources to complete the first funded phase.

The authority reported partnership contributions including county resolution funding, a $1.5 million infrastructure authority allocation, and a commitment from the town of Bluffton to reduce resident connection costs by covering half of per-connection fees; Beaufort-Jasper board members voted to cover the other half. Officials said survey and design work is underway and noted a Rural Infrastructure Authority (REIA) grant deadline that requires the authority to begin construction activity on the funded portion by December 2026. "We truly believe these are projects that prioritize public health and prioritize our environment," the authority's presenter said, urging speedy progress on design and sign-up to meet grant timelines.

The committee discussed costs, resident connection subsidies and sequencing for potential additional funding phases. Staff were asked to continue to coordinate with state and local partners and bring updates to the committee as design and financing progress.