Electric City News

Tech Upgrades Improve Water Quality at Wastewater Plant
February 22, 2012
By Brian Heaton
Government Technology
A number of new technology additions are helping the Rocky River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Anderson, S.C., discharge cleaner and clearer water back into the environment. Last fall, the facility replaced its old chlorine water disinfection process with an ultraviolet (UV) light system. In addition, in order to meet environmental regulations, the plant also began removing phosphorus from the water by using sand filters and expanded its daily treatment capacity by 3.4 million gallons per day. Full Story at Government Technology

Rocky River Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Project
Construction began in late 2008 and was completed in early 2011 with a ribbon cutting in October. The expansion and upgrades are expected to be sufficient for 20-plus years of economic development and growth. The expanded and upgraded plant produces a cleaner effluent that meets more stringent discharge limits. The project increased treatment capacity from 3.4 million gallons a day (MGD) to 9.5 MGD. The gas disinfection method – chlorine gas and sulfur dioxide – was replaced with a safer 9.5 MGD cpacity of sand filter and UV disinfection equipment. The project was completed for approximately $29 million – $1 million under budget. Expansion Details (Photo updated 2011)

Electric City Utilities Encourages Voluntary Water Conservation

In response to the ongoing drought that is affecting most of South Carolina, the City of Anderson/Electric City Utilities is encouraging all customers to voluntarily conserve water. The South Carolina State Drought Response Committee met recently and categorized the drought in Anderson County as "Severe" – the second highest of the five drought categories.

As a result of the drought, the City of Anderson is asking its customers to voluntarily conserve water by abiding by these suggestions:

Eliminating the washing down of sidewalks, walkways, driveways, and other hard surfaced areas;
Eliminating the washing down of buildings for purposes other than immediate fire protection;
Eliminating the flushing of gutters;
Eliminating the domestic washing of motorbikes, boats, cars, etc. ;
Reduce watering of lawns, plants, trees, gardens, and shrubbery on private or public property to the minimum necessary. If outdoor watering is necessary, it is requested to be done between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am; and
Limit normal water use by commercial and individual customers including, but not limited to, the following:

Stop maintaining water levels in scenic and recreational ponds, except for the minimum amount required to support fish and wildlife;
Cease water service to customers who have been given a 10-day notice to repair one or more leaks and have failed to do so;

The City of Anderson/Electric City Utilities Water Department is committed to water conservation efforts and pledge to take the following actions:

Intensify maintenance efforts to identify and correct water leaks in the distribution system.
Flush the water distribution system only when water quality standards require flushing discharges to meet minimum chlorine residual limits or other State-mandated water quality standards or regulations, such as fire hydrant flow tests.

These drought response requests will remain in place until the current drought conditions have been downgraded by the State Drought Response Committee. If the existing drought conditions intensify during the next several weeks, customers need to be prepared for more extensive water conservation requirements that may be required to preserve the water supply.

The City of Anderson/Electric City Utilities appreciates your efforts to use water wisely and practice good conservation methods. More tips for saving water or call the Water Operations Department at (864) 231-5230.

Water Rates Explanation
City Administrator John Moore has provided an explanation of city water rates. View here.

Water-Saving Tips
The City of Anderson and Electric City Utilities offers these water-saving tips:

Use the sprinkler for only for larger areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
Remember to check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the heads in good shape.
Place an empty tuna can on your lawn to catch and measure the water output of your sprinklers. For lawn watering advice, contact the Clemson University Cooperative Extension or your local landscape professional.
Avoid installing ornamental water features and fountains that spray water into the air. Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation.
When you have ice left in your cup from a take-out restaurant, don't throw it in the trash, dump it on a plant.
Plug the bathtub before turning the water on and then adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
Water your plants deeply but less frequently to create healthier and stronger landscapes.
Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in your lawn about six inches apart so water will reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on top of the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
Landscape with Xeriscape or native trees, plants and groundcovers. Call the Clemson University Cooperative Extension or your local landscape professional for more information about these water thrifty plants.
Use a hose shut-off nozzle and stop the flow of water while you wash your car and save more than 100 gallons.
Wash your car on the grass. This will water your lawn at the same time.
Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption each time you water.
Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden with a hose. Use this as a reminder for when to shut off your sprinkler.
Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and other uses.
Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant for year-round landscape color and save up to 550 gallons per plant each year.
Use a screwdriver as a soil probe to test soil moisture. If it goes in easily, don't water. Proper lawn watering can save thousands of gallons of water annually.
Buy a rain gauge to track how much rain or irrigation your yard receives. Call the Clemson University Cooperative Extension or your local landscape professional to see how much rain is needed to skip an irrigation cycle.
Report significant water losses from broken pipes, open hydrants, and errant sprinklers to the property owner or the water department.
Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
Only water your lawn when needed. You can tell this by simply walking across your lawn. If you leave footprints, it's time to water.
Teach your family how to shut off your automatic watering systems. Turn sprinklers off if the system is malfunctioning or when a storm is approaching.
Plant during the spring or fall when the watering requirements are lower.
While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.
Minimize evaporation by watering between the hours of 2:00 and 6:00 a.m., when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.
Don't water your lawn on windy days. After all, sidewalks, roads, and driveways don't need water.
Install a rain shut-off device on your automatic sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering.
Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You'll save up to 250 gallons a month per person.
Encourage your school system and government to help develop and promote a water conservation ethic among children and adults.
Use porous materials for walkways and patios to keep water in your yard and prevent wasteful runoff.
Start a compost pile. Using compost when you plant adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
When you give your pet fresh water, don't throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead and save water every time.
Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary.
Check your water meter and bill to track your water usage.
Cut back on rinsing if your dishwasher is new. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.
Turn the water off while you are soaping up, shampooing, and conditioning your hair and you can save more than 50 gallons a week per person.
While staying in a hotel or even at home, consider reusing your towels.
We're more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses for leaks.
Do one thing each day that will save water. Even if savings are small, every drop counts.
More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering. Be sure to only water plants when necessary.
When you clean your fish tank, use the water you've drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.
Designate one glass for your drinking water each day. This will cut down on the number of times you run your dishwasher.
Turn off the water while you shave and you can save more than 100 gallons a week.
Drop tissues in the trash instead of flushing it down the toilet and save water every time.
Make sure you know where your master water shut-off valve is located. This could save gallons of water and damage to your home if a pipe were to burst.
Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 1000 gallons a month.
Install an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up. This will also reduce heating costs for your household.
If your toilet was installed prior to 1980, place a toilet dam or bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to cut down on the amount of water used for each flush. Be sure these devices do not interfere with operating parts. Do not use bricks.
When you shop for a new appliance, consider one offering cycle and load size adjustments. They are more water and energy-efficient than older appliances. Look for the Energy Star label.
Teach your children to turn the faucets off tightly after each use.
Choose to have your car washed at a commercial carwash that recycles water.
When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
Don't use running water to thaw food.
Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save four gallons a minute. That's 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It's simple, inexpensive, and can save 140 gallons a week.
Insulate hot water pipes so you don't have to run as much water to get hot water to the faucet.
Adjust your watering schedule to the season. Water your summer lawn every third day and your winter lawn every fifth day. For lawn watering advice, contact the Clemson University Cooperative Extension or your local landscape professional.
If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
When replacing your washing machine, purchase a front-loading washing machine. These save water and electricity.
Cook food in as little water as possible. This will also retain more of the nutrients.
Before you lather up, install a low-flow showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save your family more than 500 gallons a week. Plug the tub when you shower to see how much water is just going down the drain.
Bermuda grasses are dormant (brown) in the winter and will only require water once every three to four weeks or less if it rains.
Encourage your friends and neighbors to be part of a water-conscious community.
Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip to 20 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent pipes from bursting or freezing.
Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It's easy to fix, and you can save more than 600 gallons a month.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time.
Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you, not the drain.

Check back every Monday for more ways to conserve water and possibly save money. For additional information or for a complete list of water conservation tips contact the City of Anderson/Electric City Utilities Water Operations Department at (864) 231-5230.

Conservation of Water Outside the Home

Use drought-tolerant plants and grasses for landscaping and reduce grass-covered areas.
Cut your grass at least three inches high to shade roots, making it more drought-tolerant; keep your mower blade sharp for the healthiest grass.
Water lawns and landscaping wisely. Remember that landscaping is most likely your number one user of water. Your lawns and plants benefit from slow, thorough and infrequent watering. Minimize evaporation by watering in the early morning or evening.
Mulch to retain water. Spread leaves, grass clippings, or landscaping tarps around plants. Mulching also controls weeds that compete with garden plants for water.
Install a drip-irrigation water system (with a timer is even better) for valuable plants.
Try to water only in the evening or very early morning to minimize evaporation.
If you use porous pavement, such as gravel, instead of asphalt for driveways and walkways, the rain can recharge groundwater supplies instead of running off and contributing to erosion.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway or sidewalk.
Wash your car less often or wash it at a carwash where they clean and recycle the water. If you do wash your car at home, use a bucket of soapy water rather than running the hose. Keep a spring-loaded nozzle on the hose.

Conservation of Water Inside the Home

Repair leaky faucets and other water fixtures.
Install a water-efficient showerhead (2.5 gallons or less per minute).
Take shorter showers.
Use less water in the bathtub. Filling the tub uses about 50 gallons of water. Try bathing in about 10 gallons. Plug the tub when you shower to see how much water is going down the drain.
When you buy a new toilet, purchase a low flow model (1.6 gallons or less per flush).
Check your toilet for "silent" leaks by placing a little food coloring in the tank and seeing if it leaks into the bowl after a few minutes. If food coloring is seen in the bowl after a few minutes, make necessary repairs to stop the leak.
Avoid using the toilet as a trash basket for facial tissues and similar items. Each flush can use up to 7 gallons of water.
Turn off water while brushing teeth and shaving.
Reduce the use of garbage disposals, which use as much as 2 gallons of water per minute, by peeling vegetables, eggs, and other foods on newspapers. Wrap the food waste and dispose of it with the trash or use food waste in a garden compost pile.
Keep a gallon of drinking water in the refrigerator rather than running the tap for cold water.
Run your washing machine with a full load of clothes. Match your washer's load selector to each load size. Wash with warm water instead of hot, rinse with cold water instead of warm. Wash with cold water when you can. When possible, hang your wash out to dry.
Buy an energy-saving washing machine. Buy an Energy Star model and save water and electricity.
Use a front-loading washing machine. The newest innovation in washers is the front-loading washing machine. These can save even more water and energy.
Wash only full loads of dishes in the dishwasher. A dishwasher uses about 14 gallons of water per load.
Teach children to turn water faucets off tightly after each use.

One Call Does it All
If you are provided water or sewer service by Electric City Utilities and need to report an emergency call for service, dial 1-800-925-1043. Once you identify your issue as water or sewer, the operator will ask you for additional information so that your problem can be accurately assessed and the proper personnel can be dispatched. This toll-free number is for after-hours emergencies only.

Water or Sewer Emergency
1-800-925-1043

For nonemergencies, Electric City Utilities can be reached at (864) 260-6347. Dialing the correct numbers greatly improves our ability to respond to your need or problem and ensures that our customers receive service as quickly as possible.