DHEC closes JRSA’s Consent Order

A matter between the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has been closed and Bob Winchester, executive director of the Sewer Authority thanks everyone for their part in closing the order.  “The consent order that the Sewer Authority entered into with DHEC in August of 2012 has been closed out and the reason was that we have complied with the requirements of the order.  We developed a corrective action plan in February, we did an audit in April and we did a six-month compliance update last month.  We have had group meetings with the municipalities and we have received reports on what they have done with for their systems during the time that this order has been effective.  The Martin’s Creek Pump Station was put into operation with the big three-million gallon storage tank and that was a major accomplishment but we have eliminated, for the time being, sanitary sewer overflows to that Martin’s Creek basin, so it was a major accomplishment.  We appreciate all the work that all the folks that were involved in this process have done, especially DHEC; they were a key element in getting this thing closed.” The problems between Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority and DHEC had to do with sanitary sewer overflows and the progress with which Oconee County was making to stop them. The consent order lasted a little more than one year, during which the Sewer Authority paid fines totaling $18,000.