BJSWA to begin $52 million plant expansion to increase drinking water capacity. Here’s why
As growth and development continue, they bring an ever-increasing need for — you guessed it — water!
That’s why the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority plans to double the capacity of its water treatment plant in Hardeeville, which serves Hilton Head, Bluffton, Hardeeville and unincorporated areas of southern Beaufort and Jasper counties.
The authority on Wednesday announced plans for a $52 million expansion of the Purrysburg Water Treatment Plant that will increase capacity from 15 million gallons to 30 million gallons a day.
Work will get underway immediately and is expected to be completed by 2025.
BJWSA treatment plant filters and disinfects water before it goes to people’s homes. The Purrysburg plant collects its water from the Savannah River.
The plant’s expansion, in conjunction with a plant in Chelsea, will bring BJWSA’s total capacity to 54 million gallons treated per day.
Today, BJWSA sees demand ranging from 18 million to 20 million gallons a day in the colder months, with demand sometimes reaching the low 30s. BJWSA serves 65,000 customers across Beaufort and Jasper County, the authority said.
“Our role here is to make sure the area has water and sewer capacity available into the future and that’s why this project is so important,” BJWSA General Manager Joe Mantua said. “It really delivers that capacity well into the future.”
While demand isn’t expected to reach the 54-million-gallon capacity anytime soon, the Purrysburg plant has room for another expansion down the road, when needed.
“That will be well after my lifetime,” said Mantua.
The Bluffton-to-Hardeeville corridor continues to grow as development moves west into Jasper County. With that development will come a hirer demand for water.
“It’s not in response to any particular one [development],” said Mantua. “This will help with all the new development that’s coming.”
Hardeeville could see up to 20,000 new homes come to the area over the next 20 years with the East Argent development. The project is expected to triple the population of the city by the time it is completed.
In 2021, Sun City announced 1,500 new homes North of Argent Boulevard in Hardeeville. Multiple apartment complexes are planned for the corridor as well, 350 of which are expected to finish later this year.
Bluffton, Hilton Head and Okatie also are seeing unprecedented growth.
This story was originally published February 22, 2023 at 2:45 PM.
