Rising rivers cut off road to Columbia’s sewer treatment plant

The main access road to Columbia’s sewer treatment plant was closed Friday because of rain-swollen rivers, a move that is forcing companies that haul sewage from septic tanks to go elsewhere.

“You can’t even see the road,” city utilities director Joey Jaco said. “It’s just a safety precaution.”

The Congaree River and its tributaries crested Wednesday, but Simmon Tree Lane was closed Friday as water backed up, Jaco said. He expects the road to reopen early next week.

In the meantime, septic tank hauling companies may go Cayce’s sewer treatment plant or other private treatment facilities, Jaco said.

Columbia treatment plant workers are using an alternate route to work, he said. But that route will not sustain the heavy trucks that ferry septic tank waste.

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Rising rivers cut off road to Columbia’s sewer treatment plant."