Florence City Leaders Deliberate on Ongoing Water Disruptions
City leaders in Florence, South Carolina convened Wednesday evening to discuss updates on the city’s water systems. This meeting comes in the wake of recurring difficulties experienced by the Florence water treatment plant in the month of August. The plant had to be taken offline due to operational complications, resulting in many local residents experiencing low water pressure, or in some cases, being left with no water at all.
Water Treatment Plant Issues
Officials identified the key cause of these difficulties as Tropical Storm Debby. This flooding led to the plant taking in water containing a high level of organic material. The handling of this organic material presented a complex challenge, necessitating the plant to halt its operations briefly.
Steps Towards Improvement
Josh Whittington, the Utility Operations Director, has announced that a third-party engineer will be involved to help improve operational procedures and prevent such incidents in the future. The engineer will assess the condition of the source water and ensure that chemical calculations are correctly implemented for proper water treatment.
“The main thing would be operator training and them helping us with a plan or written plan going forward in the event of another situation like the storm,” Whittington added.
Anticipated Timeline and Financial Aid
Leaders have yet to specify a timeline for the engineer’s assessment. Current estimates suggest the process may take a few months. Fortunately, financial respite is on the horizon for Florence’s residents; the city has been awarded a generous $9,908,062 from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority via the South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP) for water production and distribution system improvements.
Improvement Projects
Several projects will benefit from this award, including water line assistance along Meadors Road, Whitehall Shores Road, Darlington Street, Southborough Road, and Hollyberry Lane. Additional plans include improvements to the River Road Water Treatment Plant, Pine Street Water Treatment Plant, GE Water Treatment Plant, and Oakdale Water Treatment Plant.
An Eye on Opioid Funding
City leaders also highlighted the issue of opioid funding. City Manager, Scotty Davis, stated that $25,000 was set aside in 2022 to invite proposals from firms for studies on opioid addiction in the city, although that proposal is still yet to be executed.
“Do we target specific populations? All those things will be looked at in the study to make appropriate recommendations, see if applications line up with the state’s requirements, and ensure appropriate use of funds,” Davis added.
These issues of water supply and public health stand at the forefront of the city leaders’ considerations. The people of Florence remain hopeful that these discussions will lead to real, measurable improvements in water supply systems and health conditions, ensuring a better future for all residents.
