Media
If You Own an Aquarium, Please Take Note
We use Chloramines (which is a combination of chlorine and ammonia) to purify your tap water. However, like pure Chlorine, Chloramines must also be removed from your tap water if it is going to be used in an aquarium. There are several known… read more
Drinking Water Week Poster Contest 2015 Winners
BCWS holds an annual poster contest in celebration of Drinking Water Week, which is sponsored by the American Water Works Association. Berkeley County Students (public, private and home schools) in kindergarten through 8th grade were asked to design … read more
10 Tips for Saving Water . . . In Your Home
Check out this short video for 10 tips to help you save water in your home!
Archive
E-cycle is Coming to Berkeley County
Starting July 1, 2011 the new Electronic Waste Recycling Law (Section 48-60-90) will go into effect, changing what items we can accept at the Berkeley County Landfill. Also known as e-scrap, electronic waste – computers, printers, televisions, cell phones and other devices – is one the most rapidly growing waste streams in the nation.
What this Means to You?
In accordance with the law, our landfill will no longer accept the following items or any of their parts:
- Computers (include desktop, laptop, notebook and tablet computers)
- Computer Monitors
- Televisions
- Printers
In addition to the landfill ban, these items will no longer be allowed for bulk pick-up.
Where Should these Items Go?
Berkeley County residents can bring these items to any of our nine area convenience centers for disposal. Each center will have designated covered containers for these devices. If you have any questions, please contact our Recycling Coordinator, Sarah McCarthy-Smith, at (843) 719-2383.
Putting the Pedal Where His Mouth Is
Tuesday, May 31, 2011– Moncks Corner, SC: How long was your commute to work today? Was it four hours roundtrip? Did you pedal there? Probably not but, that is exactly what Wofford Stribling, an Engineer at Berkeley County Water and Sanitation did earlier this month. His four hour roundtrip bicycle commute from downtown Charleston was in honor of National Bike to Work Month which is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists.
National Bike to Work Month is comprised of two main events: National Bike to Work Week (May 16 -20) and National Bike to Work Day, May 20. The goal behind this event is to raise awareness about the health, environmental and economical benefits of commuting to work via bicycle. It also addresses the lack of knowledge and incentives that hinders many people from commuting by bike. The latter was the driving force behind Stribling’s decision to “cyclo-commute” to work.
“I rode in hopes of bringing awareness to a couple of cycling/pedestrian advocacy groups and organizations in the low-country. There are lot of great people coming together to make South Carolina a better place to ride a bike,” says Stribling. He suggests that people check out Charleston Moves (www.charlestonmoves.org) and Safe Streets Save Lives (www.safestreetssavelives.org) to learn more about how to safely utilize cycling as a means of transportation.
Wondering what a four hour roundtrip commute to Moncks Corner from downtown Charleston involves? “A lot of planning,” says Stribling. “It definitely took some time to find a route I felt comfortable riding.” On his way to work, he decided to take Rutledge Avenue to Spruill Avenue, to Park Circle then to Virginia Avenue. From there, he took North Rhett to the pedi-path on Redbank Road. At that point, he took Bushy Park Road to Cypress Gardens Road before hitting Old Highway 52. Once he reached there, he hit Oakley Road to BCWS. On his commute home, he took a more direct route, through Goose Creek. “I wanted to take advantage of their nice multi-use path that fronts their municipal buildings,” says Stribling.
To anyone thinking of “cyclo-commuting” or just riding their bike more, Stribling offers the following advice. “I encourage other Berkeley County employees to give it a try, but I cannot emphasize safety enough. Remember to plan a safe route, know the rules, be highly visible, and ride within your comfort zone.”
Zero Tolerance for Litter Campaign No Longer a Weekend Event
Friday, April 1, 2011 – Moncks Corner, SC: The 2011 Zero Tolerance for Litter Campaign kicks-off this month and there is one big change the Berkeley County Code Enforcement Department wants the citizens of Berkeley County to be aware of. The campaign will no longer run for one weekend in the month; it is now a month – long event.
This change is a result of a proclamation by Governor Haley and it will allow departments statewide to decide when and how they will conduct their Zero Tolerance Campaign. However, the campaign must be held for a minimum of 3 days. “This new change gives us more time to do two very important things, educate the citizens of Berkeley County about the dangers of littering and catch the people who violate our litter laws,” says Stacy Harris, Code Enforcement Officer for Berkeley County Water & Sanitation.
Zero Tolerance for Litter is a statewide campaign that is held in conjunction with PalmettoPride and the South Carolina Litter Control Association. It is a joint initiative uniting all law enforcement agencies in order to heighten the awareness of South Carolina litter laws.
During this time, officers will be targeting littering, illegal dumping and uncovered loads. Violators will face fines ranging from $100 to over $1,000 which can be combined with community service or jail time. Berkeley County’s Code Enforcement Officers have a 99 percent conviction rate on tickets for litter violations.
Residents are encouraged to remember the following:
- All waste should be properly secured and/or covered during transport.
- Cigarette butts are litter.
- It is illegal to dispose of waste anywhere except a proper waste receptacle.
For more information, residents can contact the BCWS Code Enforcement department at (843) 719–2676
Growing Our Own
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. Friday, December 17, 2010– Berkeley County Water and Sanitation (BCWS) is taking the lead and developing qualified workers to fill positions in its demanding industry by being the first utility agency in the tri-county area to implement an apprenticeship program. The program is geared towards its Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and it literally creates a clear pathway for an employee to advance from an Operator Trainee to an “A” Level Certification.
“If you want the best employees, you have to give them your best. BCWS is doing just that because our employees deserve it and our customers deserve it,” says Colin Martin, Executive Director for BCWS. The program is a joint partnership between BCWS and Apprenticeship Carolina, a division of the SC Technical College System, and Central Carolina College. It is comprised of supervised on-the-job training and various educational classes. It is customized to meet job-specific needs and can take anywhere from six months to four years to complete. The training is administered by mentors, called Journeymen who possess a broad range of skills and knowledge based on years of service and certification.
Another perk of the program is that it makes good financial sense from the employee and the employer standpoint. The apprentices (employees) are already on the payroll and 80% of the required training is conducted at the work site. Essentially, the employees have the opportunity to earn while they learn. The program is also recognized by the Department of Labor as a symbol of commitment in developing a highly qualified and trained workforce.
There are three BCWS employees currently enrolled in the program; James Birdsong, Raymond Burroughs and Michelle Dietrich. The journeymen leading them through this process are Bill Billinglsey, Mike Blankenship, James Crepeau, Carlton Ouzts, Roger Jones, Larry Shuler, Wayne Singletary, Bruce Snyder, James Teseniar and David Warner. Together, they are leading the way for future apprentices by being the first to take advantage of this opportunity. “When it comes down to it, we are responsible for the training and development of the workforce. This program is just one of the tools we’re using to accomplish our goal,” says Martin.
Berkeley County Water and Sanitation to Participate in Beach Sweep/River Sweep
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. Monday, September 13, 2010 – This weekend, Berkeley County Water and Sanitation will join forces with local citizens to participate in the 22nd Annual Beach Sweep River Sweep. The statewide event is the largest one-day volunteer cleanup of its kind. It is organized by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. The event will kickoff at the Boy Scouts Camp which is located just outside of Moncks Corner on Lake Moultrie at 7:30 a.m.
Various boat landings throughout the county are scheduled to be cleaned during this year’s sweep. Anyone interested in learning more about this event can contact Stacy Harris, Code Enforcement Officer for BCWS and 2010 BSRS Site Captain at 719-2671.
Cleaning supplies and lunch will be provided for all volunteers.
BCWS Code Enforcement Officers Preparing for Annual “Zero Tolerance for Litter” Campaign
April 12, 2010 – Get Ready Berkeley County! The 2010 “Zero Tolerance for Litter Campaign” kicks-off this weekend and the Berkeley County Code Enforcement Department wants you to be prepared. The campaign will start this Friday, April 16 and will run through Sunday.
“Zero Tolerance for Litter” is a statewide campaign that is held in conjunction with PalmettoPride and the South Carolina Litter Control Association. It is a joint initiative uniting all law enforcement agencies in order to heighten the awareness of South Carolina litter laws.
During this time, officers will be targeting littering, illegal dumping and uncovered loads. Violators will face fines ranging from $100 to over $1,000 which can be combined with community service or jail time. Berkeley County’s Code Enforcement Officers have a 99 percent conviction rate on tickets for litter violations.
Residents are encouraged to remember the following:
- All waste should be properly secured and/or covered during transport.
- Cigarette butts are litter.
- It is illegal to dispose of waste anywhere except a proper waste receptacle.
For more information, residents can contact the BCWS Code Enforcement department at (843) 719-2676.
Television Watch! BCWS Code Enforcement Officer Stacy Harris, will appear on Live 5 News (WCSC) Tuesday, April 13 at noon to promote this event.
BCWS to Participate in the Francis Marion National Forest Cleanup “Volunteers Needed”
January 28, 2010 – On Saturday, February 6, Berkeley County Water & Sanitation will participate in the 3rd annual Francis Marion National Forest Cleanup sponsored by PalmettoPride and the USDA Forest Service.
The Francis Marion National Forest covers 250,000 acres in Charleston and Berkeley Counties and provides wildlife enthusiasts with many activities such as hiking, paddling, bird watching and hunting.
In addition to volunteers, this event brings national, state and local government together to help clean up litter and illegal dumpsites from our forest lands.
Since the first cleanup in 2003, over 500 volunteers have successfully removed over 100 tons of trash and other waste from the forest floor including tires, construction material, and abandoned boats.
The event kicks off at the Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center located at 5821 Highway 17 North, in Awendaw at 8 a.m. From there, volunteers will be given directions to various cleanup sites. Cleaning supplies will be provided.
Please contact Kimberly Timmons, Recycling and Adopt-A- Highway Coordinator for BCWS at (843) 719-2383 if you are interested in volunteering for this event. Lunch will be provided immediately following the cleanup.
Changes to Mandatory Hookup Ordinance
December 22, 2009 – Earlier this year, Berkeley County Water and Sanitation sent out letters to some property owners advising them that water was now available to their property and that they should connect to that service within 180 days. This advice was based upon a Mandatory Hook-up Ordinance passed by County Council in 1994. However County Council has since rescinded the mandatory hookup requirement.
The property owners contacted are no longer required to connect to public water. However, they are encouraged to take advantage of the benefits of the available system. In fact all property owners, where public water is available, are encouraged to connect.
There are fees associated with the individual connection to the public water. Each resident must pay $2500 before the connection can be made. This $2500 fee includes a $1350 impact fee, $1050 connection fee and a $100 inspection fee. In addition, there is a onetime $20 origin fee that is charged to your account. The $20 fee will be added to the first month’s water bill.
For any household that needs financial assistance, $2400 of the requested $2500 can be financed at zero percent interest. The minimum payment is $20 a month and will be added to your monthly water bill until paid in full.
In order to qualify, you must be the property owner, the water service must be for your primary residence, you must pay the $100 inspection fee and you must come to our office and sign a General Utility Lien Agreement and pay a $10 recording fee.
Again, it is no longer required that you connect to the available public water, but you are encouraged to do so. If you have questions, please call our office at (843) 719-2637.
Beach Sweep/River Sweep a Huge Success
September, 2009 – Berkeley County Water and Sanitation and over 230 volunteers participated in the 21st Annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep on Saturday, September 19th at Camp Moultrie. Together volunteers consisting of local Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, other organizations and individuals cleaned up 15 boat landings and waterways.
“This year’s event was a huge success for Berkeley County and we saw a tremendous increase in volunteers which resulted in the biggest sweep to date,” says Kimberly Timmons, Recycling Coordinator for BCWS. During this year’s sweep, volunteers collected 3. 73 tons of trash and 1000 lbs of recyclables from Berkeley County landings and waterways.
A special thank you goes to Archie and Kathy Thompson along with the following sponsors: Southeastern Industrial, Berkeley County Soil and Water Conservation, Santee Cooper and Old Santee Canal Park, St. Stephen IGA, Moncks Corner Walmart, Piggly Wiggly store #12, Bi-Lo store #284 and Food Lion store #1378.
Beach Sweep/River Sweep is organized by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. It is our state’s largest one-day volunteer cleanup event of its kind and it is held every 3rd Saturday in September.
In addition to Beach Sweep/River Sweep, we also participate in the Francis Marion National Forest Cleanup, Spring for Beautiful Berkeley, and the Zero Tolerance for Litter and Adopt-A-Highway programs.
Click Here to learn more about these events and how you can help keep Berkeley County Beautiful.
SMILE – We’re Watching You
August 7, 2009 – Code Enforcement Officer David Driggers explains to Live 5 News Reporter Harve Jacobs how BCWS utilizes hidden cameras to catch people who illegally dump their trash in Berkeley County.
Illegal dumpsites are unattractive and unhealthy. They can contain everything from construction debris to household garbage. If you know of an illegal dumpsite please contact the BCWS Code Enforcement Department at (843) 719-2676.
It’s a Dirty Job but we’re Proud to Do It
July 29, 2009 – Heavy Equipment Operators at BCWS have a tough job. Solid Waste Foreman Alan Roberts shows Live 5 Reporter Bob Behanian just how tough and dirty that job can get. Bob got the chance to experience what it’s like to clean one of these machines first hand and it wasn’t pretty. The job involves cutting out much of the trash that gets trapped in the wheels and removing other waste such as food and sludge. (On this particular day Bob pulled an old shower curtain out from the wheels!)
To see Bob in action and learn more about what BCWS employees go through to keep our environment safe check out Dirty Jobs Charleston, August 2, at 11:00 p.m. on WCSC (Channel 5 News).
Up, Up, and Away
July 16, 2009 – Chad Abrams, Engineer for BCWS, bravely scales the Pimlico Water Tower as he inspects it for repainting. The tower is located just off of Cypress Gardens Road. While inspecting the tower, Chad was able to get a bird’s eye view of beautiful Berkeley County. Not bad for a day’s work!
Picking up the Pieces
June 30, 2009 – Heavy Equipment Operator Rusty Willis and Truck Driver Rod Shaffer, pitch in to help the residents of Hanahan after a tornado struck the area. BCWS clean up crews were on hand several days after the incident to help residents reclaim the safety and beauty of their neighborhood.
Fostering Our Youth
April 24, 2009 – Berkeley County Water & Sanitation’s Human Resources Coordinator, Pam Singleton, answers questions for Hope Morris at Macedonia Middle School’s Career Fair. The event gave students the opportunity to learn about various jobs at BCWS. Students also received pens and pencils made from recycled denim, tires, and currency!
It Takes a Village
Berkeley County Water & Sanitation Code Enforcement Officer Stacey Harris helps present the Lower Region Individual Award to Ranger Stan Stanley of Camp Moultrie. The award was given by the South Carolina Litter Control Association (SCLCA) during the 2009 annual meeting. Officer Harris along with other BCWS personnel work with Ranger Stanley throughout the year on numerous events designed to keep Berkeley County beautiful such as the Beach Sweep/River Sweep.
Pictured from left to right are:
Stacy Harris, BCWS Code Enforcement Officer
Ranger Stan Stanley, Director of Camp Moultrie
Ryan Lesene, President of SCLCA
Donna Thomas, SCLCA Lower Region Director
Berkeley County Water and Sanitation Lands Award for its Safety Efforts
For the 2nd year Berkeley County Water and Sanitation is the proud recipient of the Sustained Excellence in Risk Management Award presented by the South Carolina Association of Counties. BCWS officials received the award in January at the annual SCAC Insurance Trust Membership meeting held in Myrtle Beach. The award is given to counties who have made momentous achievements in their safety and risk management programs, which leads to lower worker’s compensation cost.
BCWS Receives 2008 Outstanding Business Customer of the Year Award
August 28, 2008 – Berkeley County Water and Sanitation received the Outstanding Business Customer of the Year award for Berkeley County on August 21, 2008 by the Trident Workforce One Stop Investment Board. The 18th annual awards ceremony was held at Trident Technical College’s Complex for Economic Development; and it highlighted the accomplishments of business and individuals who have helped to make the program a success.
Pam Singleton, BCWS’ Human Resources Coordinator, paved the way for BCWS to receive this year’s award. “We’re extremely proud of Pam and it’s because of her diligent efforts in working with the Berkeley County One Stop Career Center that we were one of this year’s award recipients,” says Gracie B. Horne, Human Resources Manager at BCWS.
On behalf of BCWS, Mrs. Singleton has supported the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program throughout the year by working with the WIA staff to communicate employment vacancies and by hosting several job fairs. Her efforts led to the recruitment of another BCWS employee, Mr. David Wright. Mr. Wright was hired after successfully completing CDL Truck driving School with Palmetto Training.
Mrs. Singleton and Mr. Wright are the perfect example of how dedicated and qualified employees, who work hard to provide customers with excellent service, make an organization a valuable asset to the community.
BCWS Participates in St. Stephen’s IGA Public Service Day
August 6, 2008 – Berkeley County Water and Sanitation’s former Recycling Coordinator, Jackie Tillman, helps the new coordinator Kimberly Timmons, give away recycling handouts during St. Stephen’s IGA Customer Appreciation Week. Customers received numerous products made from recycled materials, including reusable shopping bags, pens, and coasters. Anyone wanting more information about BCWS’ Recycling Program, or how you can start a sustainable program of your own, can call Mrs. Kimberly Timmons at (843) 572-4400.
Berkeley County Landfill Changes Fee
Moncks Corner, S.C. June 26, 2008 – Effective July 1, 2008, the tipping fee for Berkeley County’s construction and demolition landfill will increase from $21 a ton to $28. Anyone with questions or comments can contact the BCWS Solid Waste Department at (843) 572-4400.
Berkeley County Water & Sanitation Amends Rule For Convenience Centers In Response To Residents Request
Moncks Corner, S.C. June 24, 2008 – Berkeley County residents expressed a need, and Berkeley County Water and Sanitation listened. Residents voiced their concerns about a long-standing rule that did not allow anything larger than an 8 foot trailer inside area convenience centers. In response to these concerns, BCWS organized a special task force consisting of two county councilmen, a local business owner, Berkeley County residents, and its employees. The task force’s goal was to find a solution to this issue that would still ensure safety inside the centers.
After careful consideration the task force unanimously decided to amend the old rule, and residents now have the option of bringing any single axle utility trailer, up to 10 feet into the convenience centers. However, the waste to be recycled or disposed of must not exceed that of a normal pick-up truck load. Residents with a load that exceeds this limit will be asked to carry their waste to the landfill.
The Solid Waste Convenience Centers are to be used by Berkeley County residents only and all waste brought to the centers should be from resident’s homes. Any person utilizing the convenience centers should be prepared to show a valid ID for proof of residency.
Residents should also remember South Carolina state law requires that all vehicles transporting waste must have the debris properly covered or secured to prevent the load from falling from the vehicle. Anyone with questions or comments can contact the BCWS Solid Waste Department at (843) 572-4400
Media Inquiries
Jenna-Ley Harrison
County Public Info Officer
jennaley.harrison@berkeleycountysc.gov
(843) 719-4205