Okatie, South Carolina – May 9, 2018 – Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) reports that wastewater was released from the pump station in the Dowlingwood neighborhood into Battery Creek, near the high tide marsh during the late afternoon on May 8. The electrical equipment that instructs the pumps to run failed. The SCADA (network system) pump station alarms were not transmitted to the operations center because of a radio communication failure. The local backup alarm was noticed by a resident who reported it to customer service. BJWSA’s crew responded immediately and took appropriate cleanup / repair action to stop the overflow. The electrical equipment at the station was repaired and the station placed on a more frequent inspection schedule while the communication issue is being investigated.
Signs were posted in the area to inform the public of the release.
BJWSA has notified the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), and is working in conjunction with SCDHEC to address any effects caused by the overflow.
BJWSA has a well-trained and experienced field operations crew to monitor our wastewater collection system. These crews maintain the sewer lines to ensure the safe daily delivery of an average of nine million gallons of wastewater to eight area wastewater treatment facilities for treatment and disposal.
If you see or suspect any type of spill from the sewer collection system, please contact BJWSA at 843-987-9200.
For more information, please visit www.bjwsa.org.
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