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Grant: $2,845,500 |
Outline of Need: Georgetown County Water and Sewer District is proposing a project that will address an unsanitary sewer situation in the rural community of Choppee. The area has been designed as an eminent health hazard area. The Median Income for this area is only $17,408, which places it below the state poverty level. This community also ranks very high, number 5, on the DHEC's list of communities needing sewer service. This is due to poorly constructed and malfunctioning septic tank systems that are releasing raw sewage into the local ground water. Based on this information, this project qualifies for 75 percent grant consideration and the poverty-rate interest. |
How Rural Development Helped:
Georgetown County Water and Sewer District has certified to Rural Development that they do not have the ability to finance this project on its own. The level of grant funds needed to make this a feasible project takes it out of the realm of commercial lending. The project funds will be used to construct approximately 12 miles of 8-inch gravity wastewater collection line; 27,000 LF of 2 1/2-, 4- and 6-inch force main; and 8 pump stations. In addition to Rural Development funds, the District has obtained a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the State Department of Commerce in the amount of $500,000. A portion ($343,100) will be used for construction costs and connecting low to moderate income level users to the system. The remaining amount of funds from the CDBG will be used for administrative expenses and to make needed rehabilitation to some of the low to moderate-income user's homes in order to connect.
The Results:
Rural Development funds will alleviate an imminent health hazard and offer sanitary living to 273 residential users and 11 commercial customers in the Awendaw rural area of Georgetown County.
Pictured, above: South Carolina Rural Development State Director Charles D. Sparks presents a check for $4.1 million, in utilities program loan and grant funds, for sewer system installation in the Choppee community to eliminate contamination of local ground water from malfunctioning septic tanks. (L to R): Rev. Daniel Jiles; South Carolina State Senator Yancey McGill; Georgetown County Council Vice-Chairman Johnny Morant; State Director Sparks; Georgetown County Water and Sewer District.
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