Sewage will soon be diverted

Grovetown officials hope they can divert some of the city's sewage in September to Richmond County through a newly constructed line.

//

The city paid Augusta $500,000 in January on an existing contract for an under-construction sewer line to extend it across Columbia County's border and into the city.

"We expect them to be through by September or October," Mayor Dennis Trudeau said.

Max Hicks, Augusta's Utilities Department director, said the line and measuring facility should be in place by November.

When complete, the line will redirect about 100,000 gallons of the 300,000 sent daily to a Columbia County treatment facility to one in Richmond County.

The 5,000-foot line is being constructed to run from the county line near Gordon Highway up the Butler Creek basin and into the city.

Trudeau said the line will divert sewage from several Grovetown subdivisions including Martha's Vineyard, Summerfield, Pepper Hill, Woodward and parts of the city's old town district.

The diversion will relieve pressure on Grovetown's treatment facility, which is quickly becoming overwhelmed with the city's rapid growth.

"That's going to relieve probably about 400 taps and open up more taps for the developments going in on Harlem-Grovetown Road," Trudeau said.

The line eventually will be connected to the Phinizy lift station at the end of James Street, Trudeau said.

Hicks said the intergovernmental agreement between Augusta and Grovetown is being prepared.