Century-old sewer system in Manning, S.C., to receive $10 million overhaul

SOUTH CAROLINA (UI) — Manning, a city with a charter dating back to 1861, is gearing up for a substantial upgrade of its underground infrastructure. The city has earmarked nearly $20 million for this endeavor, set to commence in the coming year, The Post and Courier Pee Dee reported.

The primary focus of this effort is the sewer system, with an estimated project cost exceeding $10 million, and the city is planning to advertise for bids on this project in June.

The age of Manning's infrastructure is a significant concern, with some parts of the system being more than a century old. It's worth noting that the projected cost of replacing approximately six blocks of sewer lines, predominantly in the downtown area, is equivalent to the entire annual budget of the city.

In addition to the sewer project, Manning is also slated to use approximately $8 million in grant funds for drainage improvements. A South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP) grant of $8.5 million, combined with $1.5 million from the city, will fund a sewer project that involves roughly 8,200 linear feet of gravity sewer lines. Notably, the city isn't required to repay the grant funds, and the project is currently in the design phase.

According to The Post and Courier Pee Dee, City Administrator Scott Tanner acknowledged the financial challenges, saying, “We’ve been looking at this for a while, but $10 million is a lot of money for a small municipality like ours.”

To address the aging infrastructure, the city will take a case-by-case approach. Some pipes may be replaced entirely, while others may receive new lining to restore them to like-new conditions, thus avoiding the need to dig up the roads above them.

Numerous significant buildings and locations in Manning are impacted by the aging sewer system. This includes City Hall, the Clarendon County Courthouse, the city's fire and police departments, downtown businesses, the Clarendon County Library, and single-family residences.

The average lifespan of the sewer lines is not expected to exceed 40 years, despite the system's creation dating back to 1915. Manning has experienced an increase in issues with the lines over the past five years, including line collapses, which can result in costly emergency repairs exceeding $50,000.

Furthermore, several roads where these lines are located serve as critical conduits to the southern Grand Strand, further emphasizing the importance of this infrastructure project.

Mayor Julia Nelson highlighted to the The Post and Courier the need to keep the community informed about the project's impact, stating, "Knowing how old the infrastructure is, I’ve always seen that as a threat to us." The city plans to hold public meetings to ensure that people in the affected areas maintain access to buildings, businesses, and homes during the construction.

Simultaneously, Manning City is allocating nearly $8 million in funds from the South Carolina Office of Resiliency to bolster its drainage infrastructure, with a focus on manholes and larger piping. These upgrades are essential for mitigating flooding issues, and no financial matching is required.

The project will be executed in phases, with the initial phase involving work that doesn't necessitate easements. Subsequent phases will tackle projects requiring easements, and the city is actively working on acquiring these easements.

The first phase of the drainage improvement initiative is expected to be open for bidding in early 2024, while construction on the sewer line project is slated to begin in August 2024.

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