(Okatie, South Carolina) – October 8, 2021 – Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) reports that an estimated 250,000 gallons of wastewater was released from a damaged forcemain, that was damaged by a contractor, in Bluffton at 98 Fording Island Road at approximately 9 am. An estimated 10,000 gallons of the release ended in a drainage ditch on property near 17 Graves Rd. Much of the spill was contained by the contractor.
BJWSA crews immediately responded and repaired the mainline. It has been returned to operation. Crews are preparing pumps to return the water back to the containment pond. All of the standing sewer is recoverable.
Recovery and cleanup is ongoing and will continue as long as necessary.
Signs are posted in the area to inform the public.
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 10 million gallons of wastewater to eight 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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