ReWa Announcements

What are PFAS?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others. One common characteristic of concern of PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time. PFAS can be found in many places including water, soil, air, and food as well as in materials found in homes or workplaces.

Understanding the long-term effects of PFAS is in its infancy. Many public and private sector organizations are conducting PFAS-related research. Robust information is needed to better understand the risks PFAS pose and to be able to take effective actions to protect human health and the environment. EPA’s research is helping to deepen understanding of these chemicals so that steps can be taken to continue reducing the risks posed by PFAS.

EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/pfas provides more detailed information.

What is ReWa’s approach to PFAS?

ReWa is committed to public health and environmental protection. We are closely monitoring the scientific community’s continued focus on PFAS and the potential effects these substances can have on our own local environment. Our management approach is informed by the current science that is available.

Like all public water and wastewater agencies, ReWa does not create PFAS but is a "passive receiver" from various domestic, commercial, and industrial sources. ReWa performs testing for PFAS on the receiving streams where our Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs) are located to better understand the potential for PFAS in our WWRFs. There are many unanswered questions about not only the long-term effects of PFAS, but also state and national efforts to curtail their use in industrial settings.

Additional information can be found on the website of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) at:

https://scdhec.gov/environment...

Operations restored following sewer overflow in Fork Shoals Road area

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held before the Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) Board of Commissioners at 2:00 PM on Monday, November 28, 2022. The hearing will be held at the ReWa Administrative Office, which is located at 561 Mauldin Road, Greenville, South Carolina. The purpose of the meeting will be to allow customers to express their views regarding the proposed proposed operating and capital improvements budget for ReWa for Fiscal Year 2023. All persons who attend the public hearing will be given an opportunity to speak.

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held before the Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) Board of Commissioners at 3:30 PM on Monday, October 24, 2022. The hearing will be held at the ReWa Administrative Office, which is located at 561 Mauldin Road, Greenville, South Carolina. The purpose of the meeting will be to allow customers to express their views regarding the proposed changes to the Pretreatment Program and Engineering Development Fees. All persons who attend the public hearing will be given an opportunity to speak.

The Renewable Water Resources’ (ReWa) Board of Commissioners has passed a resolution approving the retirement of ReWa’s long-time Chief Executive Officer, Graham W. Rich. It also passed a resolution appointing Joel Jones, ReWa’s chief operating officer, as Rich’s successor. Jones has nearly 30 years of experience working with Upstate wastewater utilities.

These changes are slated to take effect on April 25, 2022.

Powdersville, S.C. (July 23, 2021) — Since the sanitary sewer overflow on July 6th, 2021, ReWa has conducted internal and third-party sampling of the affected area, including Craven Creek and Woodson Lake. Test results indicate that waters have returned to ambient or standard pre-event conditions. Therefore, all recommended precautions associated with the spill are lifted.

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held before the Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) Board of Commissioners at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, the 28th day of June 2021. The hearing will be held at the ReWa Administrative Office, which is located at 561 Mauldin Road, Greenville, South Carolina. The purpose of the meeting will be to allow customers to express their views regarding the proposed trunk and treatment rate changes. All persons who attend the public hearing will be given an opportunity to speak.

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held before the Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) Board of Commissioners at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, the 28th day of June 2021. The hearing will be held at the ReWa Administrative Office, which is located at 561 Mauldin Road, Greenville, South Carolina. The purpose of the public hearing will be to receive public comment regarding proposed adoption of Technical Standards for Collection System Users. A draft of the proposed Standards can be obtained from the Pretreatment Department office located at 564 Mauldin Road, Greenville, South Carolina. You may also call (864) 299-4000 ext. 222 to request a copy by mail.

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held before the Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) Board of Commissioners at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, the 28th day of June 2021. The hearing will be held at the ReWa Administrative Office, which is located at 561 Mauldin Road, Greenville, South Carolina. The purpose of the public hearing will be to receive public comment regarding proposed adoption of the CMOM Requirements. A draft of the proposed Requirements can be obtained from the Pretreatment Department office located at 564 Mauldin Road, Greenville, South Carolina. You may also call (864) 299-4000 ext. 222 to request a copy by mail.

This week, Renewable Water Resources was disappointed to discover that a totally false, politically motivated rumor has been manufactured and circulated on social media and through an online petition. Unfortunately, this misinformation campaign has generated undue concern and anxiety for a number of community members in the northern portion of Greenville County, and ReWa is setting the record straight.

In accordance with SCDHEC Regulation 61-9.403.18, Notice is hereby given that Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) has requested public comment for Sewer Use Regulation modifications. The modifications include:

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, there is no current evidence that the COVID-19 virus survives the disinfection process for drinking water and wastewater. It’s important to remember the following:

• The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water.
• The risk of transmission through feces is expected to be low based on data from previous outbreaks of related coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
• At this time, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 through sewer systems is extremely low.