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Columbia Water Has Something Wonderful on Tap for Everyone!

Dec 02, 2022 09:28AM ● By Mimi Draft

ABOUT COLUMBIA WATER:

Columbia Water is the drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utility owned and operated by the city of Columbia. Every day since 1906, Columbia Water has managed the safety and well-being of water sources for citizens of Columbia and the greater Midlands. Columbia Water operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to maintain the city’s drinking water supply, collect and treat the city’s wastewater, design and administer construction of capital improvement projects, and monitor stormwater drainage and water quality through the city of Columbia.

Columbia Water has several facilities throughout the Midlands, including the Columbia Canal Water Treatment Plant, the Lake Murray Water Treatment Plant, the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the award-winning Wastewater Maintenance LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Building. While providing safe and clean drinking water is the top priority for Columbia Water, they have a host of programs and community outreach initiatives to educate and engage their customers. For questions about group tours of any of their treatment facilities or to schedule a presentation from a Columbia Water staff member, email [email protected].

TRASH THE POOP: 

Did you know that pet waste is one of the most common contaminates in municipal water supplies? When pet waste is left on the ground, it washes into water sources during a storm. While some people may believe that pet waste will decompose, like fertilizer in a grassy area, dog excrement can contain up to three times more pathogens than waste from other animals. 

In the city of Columbia, storm drains are NOT connected to the sewer system, and anything wasted from the ground in stormwater runoff has the potential to end up in drinking water sources, like Lake Murray or the Broad River. Columbia Water has partnered with Richland County Stormwater Management Division and the Lexington Countywide Stormwater Consortium to bring public awareness to this issue. With the Trash the Poop campaign, residents are encouraged to pick up pet waste and deposit it in the trash.

Be sure to stop by the Trash the Poop table next year during the Columbia Fireflies Dog Days of Summer promotional games. Patrons with dogs will receive a free pet waste bag dispenser and have a chance to win free prizes for their pup. Learn more about the Trash the Poop campaign at TrashThePoop.com.

TRASH THE WIPES AND TRASH THE GREASE:

One of the largest issues that municipal wastewater treatment systems encounter around the world are fatbergs. A fatberg is a mass of waste matter that has congealed and hardened due to not breaking down in sewer lines. These obstructions typically contain commercial-grade flushable wipes that are sold in many retail stores, along with residue from fats, oils and grease poured down kitchen sinks and garbage disposals. Fatbergs cause extensive maintenance and cleaning issues for wastewater treatment facilities, and over time, may cause local sewer rates to rise in an effort to accommodate the associated costs. The city of Columbia spends an average of $1.5 million annually and 4,500 personnel hours unclogging and vacuuming the wastewater collection system lines each year. 

Through the Trash the Wipes and Trash the Grease campaigns, Columbia Water works to educate the public about the proper disposal of items in sewer lines. For instance, there is a common misconception that liquid grease will flow easily into the drainage system with the addition of hot water and liquid soap. Yet, many cities, like Columbia, have issues with FOG (fats, oils and grease) that have calcified over time and disrupted the flow of wastewater to treatment facilities. Clogs from wipes and FOG also have the potential to create sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) that back up underground sewage lines, causing untreated wastewater to spill onto streets and into fresh water sources. 


Here are a few things that residents can do to prevent fatbergs and SSOs:

πŸ’§ Pour used grease, fats and oils into a can. Let cool, and throw the can in the trash. Please note that cans filled with food waste should NOT be placed in a recycling roll cart.

πŸ’§ Scrape plates and dishes into the trash instead of the garbage disposal.

πŸ’§ Consider recycling large quantities of used cooking oil at City of Columbia Public Works, located at 2910 Colonial Drive. Hours of service are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Be sure used oil is free of water, soap suds and food scraps. No commercial businesses accepted.

πŸ’§ Put flushable wipes, baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, and feminine and other personal hygiene products in the trash.

πŸ’§ Report suspected sanitary sewer overflows to City of Columbia Customer Care at 803-545-3300.

WINTER WATER-SAVING TIPS:

Water conservation is one of the easiest ways to save energy and money in a household. As the Midlands chills out for the winter, here are a few ways to save water in your home this season:

❄ Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.

❄ Take a five-minute shower rather than a bath.

❄ Turn off water while brushing teeth and shaving.

❄ Check your toilet for β€œsilent” leaks by placing a little food coloring in the tank and seeing if it leaks into the bowl after 15 minutes.

❄ Wash only full loads of laundry.

❄ Replace old washing machines and dishwashers with an Energy Star machine.

❄ Scrape rather than rinse dishes before loading into dishwasher.

❄ Install a water-efficient showerhead. 

Visit epa.gov/watersense for more tips on conserving water at home and outdoors.

EYE ON WATER APP:

Columbia Water is pleased to announce a powerful tool for their customers. They encourage you to download the free EYE ON WATER app for Android and Apple devices. This app allows you to track your water usage, set leak alerts and more! The app registration can be found at ColumbiaSCWater.eyeonwater.com/sign-in.


For more information about Columbia Water and its programs, visit ColumbiaSCWater.net. Be sure to follow @ColumbiaSCWater on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest water news and event information, like their rain barrel and compost bin sales.


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