Sewer Department

About Us

The City of Hartwell Wastewater Treatment Plant was constructed in 1965, then modified and upgraded in 1979, 1985, and 1998. The plant's largest changes came in 1998, replacing a 1.25 mgd trickling plant with a 1.75 mgd activated sludge plant. The plant currently produces an avg. of 1.0 mgd.

Another important change was an upgrade from a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to a Land Application System (LAS) permit. With this upgrade brought many changes, removing a point source discharge from Cedar creek. The effluent from the plant is now used to irrigate Cateechee Golf Course. For these irrigating purposes, the treatment plant reuses quality water, insuring the health of the public using the Cateechee Golf Course.

The City's wastewater collection system includes approximately sixty (60) miles of 8 - 18 inch diameter gravity sewers, eleven (11) publicly-owned sewage pumping stations, and six (6) privately-owned pumping stations. The wastewater collection system currently serves approximately 1,900 customers. In 1983, Hartwell adopted a sewer use ordinance that set guidelines to help protect the sewer customer as well as the wastewater treatment plant.

The treatment plant is manned seven (7) days a week to insure the finest quality effluent. The goal is shared by all operators at the City Wastewater Treatment Plant.