Community members came together to celebrate the completion of the $35 million water system expansion project, a partnership between the Town of Batesburg-Leesville and the Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission.

The project marks a 40-year agreement with the commission. In 2013, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control issued a consent order requiring the Town of Batesburg-Leesville to find a sustainable water solution, either by upgrading its existing plant or partnering with a new provider.

The partnership with the Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission was made official in 2022.

“The end of this project marks a new beginning for our community,” Batesburg-Leesville Mayor Lancer Shull said in a news release. “This is a prime example of how we can resolve long-standing issues and boost our citizens’ quality of life at the same time. The alliance we’ve forged with JMWSC will pay dividends for decades to come.”

The project included the construction of 7.5 miles of 24-inch water transmission line along Highway 1, connecting the commission’s system to a new 1-million-gallon tank on Old Field Road. It also added a 2,500-gallon-per-minute pump to promote proper pressure and flow, along with 23 new fire hydrants.

On the Batesburg-Leesville side, crews installed more than four miles of 16-inch pipes to connect to the main transmission line and 33 additional fire hydrants.

According to the press release, the new structure will serve the community’s growing needs for decades to come. 

“Part of JMWSC’s mission is to promote and support economic development, and address health, environmental, and quality of life concerns with Lexington County. This project checks off all of those boxes for the western corridor along Hwy. 1,” Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission Chairman and Pelion Mayor Frank Shumpert said. 

Helping reduce costs and keeping rates stable, the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority contributed $20 million through the state’s infrastructure investment program, while the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund provided another $9 million in low-interest dollars.

“This project represents a substantial investment and provides the framework for transformational impact on the future of Batesburg-Leesville and surrounding areas,” Bonnie Ammons, executive director of the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority, said in the press release. “By working together to address the need for reliable water infrastructure, we are laying the groundwork for prosperity now and in the future."