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CWS I-20 Discharge Finally Ends
Mar 06, 2018
At approximately 1:00 pm on Wednesday, February 28th, after nearly two decades of illegal discharges, six years of work by Congaree Riverkeeper, and multiple court cases, the discharge from Carolina Water Service's I-20 wastewater treatment plant into the Lower Saluda River finally ceased. This is a huge victory for the Saluda, river users, and everybody in our community who cares about clean water and healthy rivers.
None of this could have happened without the people who supported us in the fight, showed up at public hearings, submitted comments, and made their voices heard. Today your river is cleaner because of your efforts, and we’re just getting started.
Here is a general timeline of how this issue played out over the years (this is not a comprehensive list):
1999 - CWS told they must connect the I-20 plant to the regional sewer system; NPDES Permit for CWS I-20 expires.
March 2012 - Congaree Riverkeeper begins investigating CWS I-20 discharge and building Clean Water Act lawsuit.
November 4, 2013 - Congaree Riverkeeper, represented by SELC, sends Notice of Intent to Sue letter to CWS, initiating Clean Water Act lawsuit.
January 14, 2015 - After more than a year of attempted negotiations to end the discharge, Congaree Riverkeeper officially files CWA lawsuit in federal court.
July 14, 2015 - DHEC proposes to reissue NPDES permit for CWS I-20 and published draft permit and public notice.
August 25, 2015 - DHEC holds public hearing on CWS I-20 Permit renewal. More than 300 people attend, all but one oppose renewing the permit.
September 4, 2015 - DHEC issues Notice of Intent to Deny NPDES permit for CWS I-20.
August 1, 2016 - DHEC officially denies NPDES permit renewal for CWS I-20 and issues administrative orders.
September 21, 2016 - CWS appeals permit denial to SC Administrative Law Court.
March 30, 2017 - Federal Judge rules in favor of Congaree Riverkeeper in Clean Water Act lawsuit, fines CWS $1.5 million, and orders them the end discharge by April 1, 2018.
September 2017 - The Town of Lexington moves to condemn the CWS I-20 plant.
February 1, 2018 - Town of Lexington officially takes ownership of CWS I-20 system.
February 28, 2018 - Town of Lexington connects flow from I-20 system to its nearby sewer system via a temporary pumping system, ending the discharge to the Saluda River.
