The city of Aiken and its engineering firm are currently working to obtain the permits necessary to replace its 1950s-era water treatment plant.
Late last year, the process of obtaining permission to construct the $65-70 million new plant began, Marie Corbin, a senior project engineer at Goodwyn Mills Cawood, told the Aiken City Council on Monday evening.
Goodwyn Mills Cawood is providing engineering and project management services to the city on the project.
Corbin showed a PowerPoint slide indicating the city must receive permission from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Army Corps of Engineers, the South Carolina Department of Transportation, Aiken County and state-owned Santee Cooper.
DHEC issued a construction permit last week, Corbin said.
When Aiken builds the new plant, it also plans to rehabilitate the dam used to collect water from Shaws Creek. As such, the city must receive permission from the Corps of Engineers to perform the maintenance work.
Goodwyn Mills submitted the application last month and is waiting to hear back from the Corps, she said.
"Typically, that process is around 45 days inclusive of conference so we don't anticipate that process taking too much longer," Corbin said.
The new plant will be built across the Columbia Highway (U.S. Route 1) from the existing plant. The city plans to pipe the water collected at the dam under the roadway to the new plant. As such, the city must receive permission from DOT to install the pipes under the road.
The city has received permission for the pipes, Corbin said.
Aiken County must approve the site plan and building designs of the new plant because its not in the city limits.
Goodwyn Mills applied for permission in December and is working through the county's process, Corbin said.
Once Aiken County gives permission, DOT should give permission for a driveway connecting with the highway, Corbin added.
There are Santee Cooper power lines running through the area and the city must also seek a permit to go beneath the powerlines with piping.
Goodwyn Mills is currently working with the state-owned utility to obtain permission, Corbin added.
Once all the permits have been obtained, the city can begin construction.
City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said construction should begin later this year.
The city estimates it will take 27-30 months to build the plant.
The city council also unanimously voted to approve a resolution approving an application for a low-interest loan from the South Carolina Drinking Water Quality Revolving Fund.
