Members of Pelican Intl and Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) teams gathered around a kayak made by Pelican Intl for the utility. The manufacturer and ReWa are planning to partner along the Reedy River.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA (March 23, 2026)—Greenville’s Mauldin Road is home to one of the state’s largest wastewater utilities and a worldwide leader in the paddle sports industry, and they are exploring opportunities to work together along the Reedy River.
Pelican Intl’s Greenville manufacturing facility gifted Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) a kayak as the manufacturer and the utility explore partnerships.
“We’re water people at ReWa, and the Pelican Intl team are water people, too,” said Haley Denison, ReWa’s watershed and natural resources specialist. “We’re looking forward to having them volunteer during our annual river sweep later in the year, hosting them while discussing our operations and learning more about their processes and commitment to sustainability.”
ReWa’s Mauldin Road Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF), the largest of its nine WRRFs, is across the street from Pelican Intl’s plant.
“Our goals definitely align in preserving our beautiful waterways of the Upstate,” said Joe Ervin, Pelican Intl’s general manager in Greenville. “Being so close, it will be good to build the partnership.”
Six Pelican Intl employees, including the team that built the 10.5-foot kayak in its Dagger brand, presented the kayak to the utility. Pelican Intl also discussed its manufacturing process, which includes misters to cool molds when exiting an oven. No other water is used in the company’s manufacturing process. The company also recycles plastic, mostly from cutting out cockpits, by grinding it and selling it to a recycler.
ReWa discharges 44 million gallons of water daily into rivers and streams, like the ones Pelican Intl’s boats are used on recreationally.
Pelican Intl manufactures canoes, fishing boats, kayaks and pedal boats. The company has manufacturing facilities in Greenville and Quebec, Canada. The Greenville facility employs 100 people.
ABOUT RENEWABLE WATER RESOURCES (ReWa): Since 1925, Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) has been committed to providing high-quality wastewater services to the Upstate of South Carolina while protecting public health, supporting environmental stewardship and sustaining our community. With nine water resource recovery facilities and more than 430 miles of pipe, ReWa serves Greenville County and portions of Anderson, Laurens, Pickens and Spartanburg counties. Each day, approximately 44 million gallons of water pass through ReWa’s system before being cleaned and safely returned to local rivers and streams.