Heavy rains wash sewage sludge into creek that drains past public park
Sewage spilled from a troubled wastewater plant Friday into a tributary of the Saluda River as heavy rains pounded the Columbia area.
The spill from the Friarsgate treatment plant to the creek appeared to be substantial, although the amount was not immediately available, Congaree Riverkeeper Bill Stangler said.
Stangler said the Friarsgate leak was among at least three spills that occurred in the Columbia area Friday.
“This was not a good day for spills all around,’’ he said.
Blue Granite Water, which owns the Friarsgate treatment plant, confirmed the spill occurred late in the afternoon. Sludge that was being kept on site for shipment away from the Friarsgate plant washed off the property and into the creek, Blue Granite spokesman Dave Wilson said.
“It’s a result of the massive amount of rainfall we’ve had over the last 24 hours,’’ Wilson said, noting that crews are working to clean up the mess. “It is currently contained.’’
Wilson said the spill impacted a small stream that drains into Rawls Creek, which flows past Saluda Shoals Park and empties into the Saluda River.
“Crews are there now and will remain there overnight for the cleanup process,’’ Wilson said.
The Columbia area received about 4.2 inches of rain from late Thursday to about 6:30 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
The S.C. Department of Heath and Environmental Control is investigating the matter.
“We are evaluating the situation,’’ DHEC spokeswoman Laura Renwick said. While the spill occurred at a time when few people are in the water, Renwick warned people to stay clear of the water until bacteria return to save levels.
The Friarsgate plant has been closed, but still had sewage sludge in a basin on the property.
The facility was a source of concern for years. The plant, which had a discharge pipe near a boat launch at Saluda Shoals Park, was blamed in 2016 for fouling the Saluda River after poorly treated wastewater drained from the plant. Bacteria levels soared in the river in the summer of that year, causing DHEC to issue warnings against swimming. The pollution occurred around the July 4th holiday, which angered many swimmers and paddlers.
DHEC later hit Blue Granite, formerly known as Carolina Water Service, with an $80,000 fine.
Blue Granite has had a history of spills and leaks from sewage treatment plants it operates in South Carolina. The company changed its name from Carolina Water to Blue Granite and has recently said it was working to make improvements. The company has announced plans to close the Friarsgate plant.
“As part of the decommissioning of that plant, they have been storing sludge onsite to move offsite, and the container they were using to store that sludge, blew out,’’ Stangler said, noting that Blue Granite should be held accountable for the creek pollution.
The Saluda River, with whitewater rapids and icy trout-filled water, is considered the Columbia area’s most popular recreational river.
“The bigger takeaway is this is just one more failure from this company to handle their waste at a facility they were supposed to be shutting down,’’ Stangler said. “Whether its in the middle of June when people are swimming or the middle of December when folks aren’t, it is not supposed to happen. It’s part of an ongoing pattern we’ve seen with this company.’’
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 6:29 PM.
