Letter: Bluffton project important milestone

I am writing to amplify the importance of your story "Bluffton to begin Pine Ridge lagoon project" (Jan. 29).

Those of us committed to balancing community growth with environmental protection recognize that this project will serve as an important milestone by testing and demonstrating how rainwater can be managed and beneficially reused for irrigation, thereby eliminating stormwater runoff impacts to our saltwater estuaries.

The town of Bluffton is becoming a national leader in local environmental stewardship. We should be thankful for the leadership of Mayor Lisa Sulka and Town Council and town staff members Marc Orlando, Kim Jones and Jeremy Ritchie.

Finally, the importance of collaboration from the Pine Ridge POA and community, EPA, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the Beaufort County Stormwater Utility cannot be overstated.

Allen Ward

president

Ward Edwards Engineering

This story was originally published February 5, 2016 at 4:04 PM with the headline "Letter: Bluffton project important milestone."