Aiken Times

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) have received the City of Aiken’s application for Federal grant funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

As part of the application process and in accordance with Executive Order 11988 and 44 CFR §9.12, final public notice is hereby given for the City of Aiken’s proposed project which contains actions in or affecting the floodplain and/or wetlands. The project will conform to applicable state and local floodplain protection standards

Funding for the proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions.

Applicant: City of Aiken

Project Title: Intake Retrofit for Shaws Creek Water Treatment Plant

Location of Proposed Work:

The proposed work will be at the Shaws Creek Water Treatment Plant located at 1758 Columbia Highway N., Aiken, SC 29801.

Planning Factors and Considerations:

Several significant factors were considered as part of this project, including, but not limited to:• Consistency with local goals and initiatives to reduce impacts from natural hazards;• The economic impact to the community;• Legal constraints that may impact project execution.

Proposed Work and Purpose:

The proposed project includes the following activity:

1. Rehabilitate the low head dam to improve water retention upstream of the dam and to increase the reliability of the intake infrastructure.

2. Chemical Feed: Install a potassium permanganate feed system for pre-oxidation.

3. Raw Water Pump Station: Provide four (4) raw water vertical turbine pumps with adequate turndown to meet historic average daily flows.

The purpose of this project is to utilize existing infrastructure to the greatest extent possible through upgrades and modification to extent existing structures useful life. Through the upgrades to the low head dam will provide a stable and reliable structure for holding water for the water treatment plant’s intake. Modifications to the intake pumps station will increase redundancy and capacity of the station and allow for the withdrawn water to be treated at the proposed treatment plant.

The existing infrastructure, proposed upgrades, and modifications are located within the floodplain of Shaw’s Creek. Whenever feasible new equipment will be raised above the 100-floodplain elevation to reduce and mitigate impacts. If wetland impacts are required, they will be temporary and reestablished to the pre-construction elevations/contours.

Project Alternatives:

The only alternates are to locate, permit, and sample for a new intake location; or utilize ground water only. The first is not feasible with the current condition of the existing water plant due to the time required for permitting and sampling. The second alternative is not preferred as the system would be dependent on a single water source as all existing ground well currently pull from the same aquifer.

Comment Period:

Comments are due by close of business on February 6, 2023

Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. The comments can be made in writing and addressed to Mike Przybylowicz, Engineering and Utilities Director, PO Box 1177, Aiken, SC 29802 or online.

Maps:

A map of the project areas is available here.

Point(s) of Contact:

For additional information, please contact:

Mike Przybylowicz,Engineering and Utilities Director(803) 642-7610Online Contact Form

Original source can be found here.