A Similar Experience

The Charleston, S.C. Post & Courier recently published an article entitled, “Lakes [Marion & Moultrie] can absorb development, experts say”. However, the article warned that “problems loom for maintaining water quality and fisheries” and referenced the experience of lakes Norman, Wylie and Mountain Island on the Catawba River in North and South Carolina. These lakes, and the experience of the wastewater treatment plants discharging into them, serve as an excellent case study for the Columbia Metro WWTP and Lake Marion.The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities’ McAlpine Creek WWTP is located a mile north of the South Carolina border on the Catawba River. The McAlpine Creek WWTP is approximately the same size as Columbia Metro WWTP (it is permitted to treat 64 million gallons of wastewater per day). In 2002, when McAlpine Creek sought to renew its operating permits, SCDHEC challenged the permit because of phosphorus limits which already applied to South Carolina dischargers into the Catawba River. An agreement was reached which required McAlpine Creek to reduce its phosphorus levels by 70%. This required the plant to make $47 million in capital improvements and add $1 million in additional annual operating costs. More information on McAlpine Creek’s Phosphorus Reduction Project can be found in CMU’s year end report and on the Charlotte Chamber website.McAlpine Creek WWTP is an award winning plant. But when SCDHEC required stringent phosphorus limits, McAlpine Creek had no option but to implement the $47 million in capital improvements. SCDHEC has not yet implemented nutrient limits for Columbia Metro, but it is clear from Charlotte’s experience and that of Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority and Lake Greenwood that regulations will be forthcoming, and they may come when unexpected. Complying with nutrient limits is obviously expensive and ultimately the money comes from the customers. In Columbia Metro’s case, there are already great pressures on rates plus 2/3rd’s of Columbia Metro’s water and sewer system is more than 50 years old. A comprehensive plan involving reliable, inexpensive technology would almost certainly seem to include a treatment wetlands component.