Saving the Edisto River from contamination!

We need your help saving the Edisto River from contamination!

As you may recall from the fall issue of theCongaree Chronicle, the North Edisto River could be at risk due to a wastewater agreement between the town of Batesburg-Leesville and Saluda County Water and Sewer Authority. The agreement states that Saluda County Water and Sewer Authority would send an additional one million gallons of raw sewage per day to the Batesburg-Leesville wastewater treatment plant.

The plan would call for the discharge of treated wastewater into Duncan Creek, which feeds into Chinquapin Creek and the North Edisto River. The additional volume of treated wastewater could severely impact the quality of the river, which is in direct violation of South Carolina DHEC's Antidegradation standard.

Please take a minute to call Saluda County Water & Sewer Authority (SCWSA) member Mr. Jerry Strawbridge at (803)604-1110 or send him a letter to 105 Arbor Drive, Leesvillle, South Carolina 29070.

Let him know that you are opposed to the agreement between Batesburg-Leesville & Saluda County Water & Sewer Authority because:

• The construction of the pump station and sewer lines from Saluda County to Batesburg-Leesville, if allowed to continue, will create significant, recognizable damage to the environment of the Edisto River. The damages would consist of dramatic increases of nutrient concentrations and organic residues of sewage in the stream.

• Any degradation of the Edisto River will create repercussions for all citizens downstream of Batesburg-Leesville, including Orangeburg, Bamberg, Colleton, Dorchester, and Charleston counties, all of whom draw their water from the Edisto River.

• We are opposed to any interbasin transfer of wastewater, that is, sending Saluda county’s wastewater to Lexington county.

• The Edisto River is widely used for recreation purposes, including fishing, swimming and canoeing/kayaking, to name a few. The degradation of the Edisto River would limit the recreational possibilities for the river.

Thank you for taking a moment to help save one of South Carolina's important waterways.

Sincerely,

Kurt Henning