Greer CPW gets $10M grant for wastewater improvements

The Greer Commission of Public Works was recently awarded a $10 million grant from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority to help with improvements for clean drinking water, sanitary sewer and stormwater resilience.

The funds will help increase capacity at the Maple Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and ultimately allow employees to treat up to 7.5 million gallons per day.  Currently, the plant has a capacity to treat up to 5 million gallons per day, according to a Greer CPW news release.

“This funding opportunity allows us to take a significant step forward in preparing for future growth while strengthening our commitment to providing quality wastewater services,” Operations Manager Daniel Fahr said in the release.

Greer CPW is one of 216 public water and sewer utilities across South Carolina to receive funding from the Rural Infrastructure Authority, and recently selected Black & Veatch as the design engineer and Reeves Young as the contractor for the project, according to the release. Some materials like wastewater screening equipment are being sourced locally from Kusters Water in Spartanburg.

“At Kusters Water, we take great pride in supplying equipment to local municipalities, knowing that each project is far more than just a sale,” Kusters Water Division Sales Manager Joshua O’Keefe said in the release.” We see it as the start of a lasting partnership where we can support each other, share knowledge and work together to strengthen the wastewater community. These relationships allow us to learn from our partners in the field while providing solutions that protect the environment and serve the public for years to come.”

Total construction cost is expected to be about $13.2 million with Greer CPW supporting the rest of the project through planned capital improvement project funding.

“This project will enhance technology at the wastewater treatment plant as we continue to meet the needs of our customers,” Greer CPW Engineering and Planning Manager Brendan Crawford said in the release. “As a vibrant and growing community, Greer’s infrastructure must continue to expand to provide resilient and efficient services to our customers in a cost-effective manner.”

Construction began at the headworks area in June and is expected to last through the through the end of 2026 with no wastewater service impacts to customers during the project, the release stated.

Major improvements include:

• Expanding and strengthening the initial treatment stage of the wastewater treatment plant by adding two grit removal channels and replacing existing screening equipment with larger, more robust, and locally sourced units from Kusters Water.
• Expanding UV disinfection from one to three channels while utilizing all new equipment and improving treated effluent reaeration by incorporating a larger and more efficient design.
• Increasing efficiency and lowering energy costs at the plant.