AUDIT SHOWS ‘STRONG FINANCIAL’ PICTURE FOR WATER AUTHORITY

The Edgefield County Water and Sewer Authority (ECWSA) is on target to receive another clean bill of financial health, according to a draft audit presented at the utility’s Board of Directors meeting Monday night.

A representative of Mauldin & Jenkins, a Columbia-based accounting firm, presented the Fiscal Year 2025 draft document to the Board, pointing to several highlights in the Authority’s financials. The final audit report is expected by the next Board meeting.

“We’ve had a very successful audit so far,” said John Hare, the ECWSA’s administrator. “Our final numbers won’t be published until next month, but we’re in a strong financial position.”

With the rising cost of infrastructure, Hare said. “it’s imperative that we stay in the black and also that we are able to have enough debt service coverage to be able to borrow future money for other projects for the future.”

The latest monthly financial report for the Authority shows strong bank balances, despite demand for water service being down to 97 million gallons in August because of consistent rainfall during the month. That was compared to 120 million gallons in August 2024.

Because of the lack of rainfall so far in September, “we are wide open right now,” Hare told the Board. The Authority is anticipated to have pumped around 130 to 140 million gallons once this month’s billing is completed, he said.

In his monthly report to the Board, Hare noted the progress being made on upgrades ongoing at the Authority’s water treatment plant at DeLaughter and Freeland Drives, in the Merriwether community near the Savannah River. The phasded-one upgrades are being funded in part by a $10 million grant from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority, along with around $1.5 million from the utility’s own funding.

During his presentation, Hare showed the Board photos from the plant upgrade, including the installation of transmission pipes and connectors. The project features two new 600-horsepower pumps at a new high-service pumping station, clearwell upgrades, new electrical supply building and piping upgrades at the water plant.  Future upgrades will include additional filters, new lab, new rapid mix and raw water station upgrades, Hare noted.

“We should be finished by mid-2026,” Hare said.

Hare also showed the Board a few photos and video of emergency repairs made recently during the wee hours of one night when an air-release valve in a spray field at the plant experienced a one-inch breach. “That’s just one of the things we deal with,” he said. “It was an adventure.”

In other action, the ECWSA Board voted to spend approximately $43,000 to purchase a new mini-excavator to replace an older piece of equipment that had required numerous repairs.

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Tony Baughman

Administrator

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