Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Water supply and wastewater treatment |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Headquarters | Okatie , United States |
Area served | Beaufort County and Jasper County, South Carolina, US |
Key people | General manager |
| Products | Water and wastewater services |
| Website | www |
The Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA) is a non-profit organization and public water system responsible for overseeing water and wastewater services within the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, specifically in Beaufort and Jasper counties. Established in 1954 pursuant to Act 784 enacted by the South Carolina General Assembly, BJWSA originally provided services exclusively to Beaufort County. In 1969, its scope widened to include the construction of wastewater treatment facilities. The current form of BJWSA was created in 1983 following a merger with the Jasper County Water and Sewer Authority.
Initially serving primarily unincorporated regions, BJWSA has since incorporated municipal water and sewer systems from the towns of Beaufort, Port Royal, Bluffton, and Hardeeville. Beginning in 2008, the authority extended its services to cover military bases located in northern Beaufort County. Additionally, in 2009, BJWSA acquired the former right-of-way of the Port Royal Railroad to support future utility infrastructure and enable development of the Spanish Moss Trail.
The governance structure of BJWSA consists of an eleven-member board appointed by the Governor of South Carolina. Operational management is directed by a general manager who supervises all departments. The organization's headquarters are situated near the boundary between Beaufort and Jasper counties along S.C. Highway 170 in Okatie.
BJWSA's main source of fresh water is drawn from the Savannah River, located approximately eight miles north of downtown Hardeeville. An eighteen-mile canal transports this water to treatment plants operated by the authority. Currently, BJWSA manages two water treatment facilities, three wastewater treatment plants, and multiple pumping stations.
The authority serves around 57,000 retail water customers alongside approximately 38,000 wastewater service accounts. On average, it processes about 20 million gallons of potable water and treats roughly 9 million gallons of wastewater daily.
Awards
BJWSA has received various prestigious recognitions at both state and national levels. Among these are the Platinum Award for Competitiveness Achievement presented by the Association of Metropolitan Water Associations and consecutive Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association from 2004 through 2010. Furthermore, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control honored BJWSA’s Cherry Point, Hardeeville, and LB Wastewater Treatment Plants with Facility Excellence Awards during the period from 2006 to 2010.