11/14/08

East Carolina professor to discuss saltwater intrusion Nov. 18 at Hilton Head PSD

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (Nov. 14, 2008) – Hilton Head Public Service District (PSD) will play host to a presentation on the status of saltwater intrusion into the Upper Floridan Aquifer, at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in the PSD’s Community Room at 21 Oak Park Drive off Mathews Drive. The discussion will be led by Dr. Richard K. Spruill, Associate Professor of Hydrology at East Carolina University. The public is invited. 

The Upper Floridan Aquifer is the current source of about half of the public drinking water supply for Hilton Head PSD, which serves more than 17,000 customers in the north- and mid-island areas of Hilton Head Island. The utility has lost four drinking water wells to saltwater intrusion since 2000, including some wells that experienced salt level increases of more than 350 percent. The intrusion is caused by the over-pumping of the aquifer in the Savannah, Ga., region, which is bringing saltwater into the freshwater aquifer. 

To combat the effects of saltwater intrusion, the PSD is constructing a reverse osmosis drinking water treatment facility that will provide drinking water from a new source – the 600-foot-deep Middle Floridan Aquifer. The reverse osmosis facility will initially provide 3 million gallons of drinking water a day, and is anticipated to be in operation in January 2009. Dr. Spruill also will discuss recent monitoring of the Middle Floridan Aquifer during the Nov. 18 presentation. 

Dr. Spruill is an expert on the hydrogeology of the Upper Floridan Aquifer, and has worked with Hilton Head PSD on the issue of saltwater intrusion, through his role as principle in the firm of Groundwater Management Associates. He received his Ph.D. in Hydrology from the University of North Carolina.  

For more information about the presentation, please contact Pete Nardi, Hilton Head PSD Community Relations Manager, at (843) 681-0525 or info@hhpsd.com.

10/15/08

Hilton Head PSD Commission-Town Council joint meeting to focus on sewer progress 

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (Oct. 15, 2008) – The Hilton Head PSD Commission and Hilton Head Town Council will hold a joint meeting on the progress of sewer installation in the PSD’s north- and mid-island service area at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 28, in the PSD Community Room at 21 Oak Park Drive off Mathews Drive, on Hilton Head Island. The public is invited to attend. 

About nine percent of Hilton Head PSD’s customers remain unconnected to the public sewer system, relying instead upon septic systems to treat their household wastewater. Septic systems are ill-suited to the island’s high groundwater table, resulting in failures. Septic system failures threaten both public health and the island’s environment. 

The PSD launched a $20-million effort in 2005 aimed at installing system infrastructure such as sewer lift stations that will enable future neighborhood sewer projects to connect individual homes to the sewer system. Today, about $8 million in system infrastructure projects remains to be completed. The Town of Hilton Head Island has played a critical role by providing land on which to locate infrastructure and by committing funds in its Capital Improvement Plan to install sewers at its parks and other Town-owned facilities. 

Additionally, both the Town and PSD have worked to provide financial assistance for low- and moderate-income families to meet their share of the cost of connecting to the sewer system. The Town has received a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to install sewers for more than 30 low-income homeowners in the Squire Pope Road area. The PSD will manage construction of the CDBG project.

9/17/08

Hilton Head PSD customers affected by BJWSA source’s algae bloom 

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (Sept. 17, 2008) – An algae bloom in the Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) surface water is affecting the taste and odor of drinking water supplied to Hilton Head PSD customers. The drinking water supplied by Hilton Head PSD remains safe to drink and use, despite the taste and odor problem. The algae bloom is creating an “earthy taste and odor” in the water, according to BJWSA. Hilton Head PSD purchases about half of its drinking water supply from BJWSA, which provides treated surface water from the Savannah River. 

BJWSA informs Hilton Head PSD today that it is working to correct the problem and expects to see an improvement in the taste and odor by this weekend. The PSD also will attempt to mitigate the problem in the meantime by limiting its use of the BJWSA supply when possible. BJWSA has a statement about the algae bloom on its website at http://www.bjwsa.org/latestnews.html. Cooling a container of tap water in the refrigerator may help alleviate some of the taste and odor problems for drinking purposes, according to the BJWSA statement. 

Hilton Head PSD serves approximately 17,000 customers in the north- and mid-island areas of Hilton Head Island.

7/25/08

Hilton Head PSD raises water rates for first time in nine years; absorbs part of BJWSA wholesale water rate increase 

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (July 25, 2008) – Hilton Head Public Service District (PSD) this week approved a 4-percent water rate increase, absorbing part of a recent 9-percent increase in the wholesale water rate it is charged by the Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA). The PSD has held the line on water rates since 1999; while BJWSA has raised the wholesale water rate it charges the PSD by 44 percent since 1999. 

Hilton Head PSD uses a water conservation rate structure, which charges higher rates to customers who use more water. That means water rates vary based upon consumption. Under the new water rates, a customer who uses 5,000 gallons of water a month will see a 3.4-percent increase, while a customer who uses 50,000 gallons of water a month will see a 6.4-percent increase. 

The new water rate, which affects both residential and commercial customers, takes effect Aug. 1. There is no change to the PSD’s sewer rates.  

            “Our rates reflect our cost of providing water service,” said PSD General Manager Richard Cyr. “In the face of ongoing wholesale water rate increases, and other escalating costs, we believe it is prudent to adjust our rates to reflect our cost of service.” 

            Hilton Head PSD currently purchases about half of its drinking water supply from BJWSA, which provides Savannah River surface water, and the other half is drawn from the PSD’s groundwater wells in the Upper Floridan Aquifer. The PSD is in the process of constructing a Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Facility on Jenkins Island that will be able to supply half of the PSD’s drinking water needs, using a new source – the 600-foot-deep Middle Floridan Aquifer. The Reverse Osmosis Facility is expected to be operational by early 2009. 

5/20/08

Hilton Head PSD Commission candidates must file by July 15 

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (May 20, 2008) – The deadline for candidates to file for four seats on the Hilton Head Public Service District (PSD) Commission is July 15. Voters will elect candidates to four PSD Commission seats during the Nov. 4, 2008, general election. One seat each in PSD Voting Districts 2 and 3, and two seats in PSD Voting District 4 will be up for election. Candidates are elected to four-year terms. Candidates must live within the PSD Voting District for which they are running.

PSD District 2 includes Indigo Run and the Spanish Wells area. District 3 comprises areas around Mathews Drive, and Beach City and Folly Field roads, including Palmetto Hall and Port Royal Plantation. District 4 comprises Hilton Head Plantation and areas around Gum Tree Road and Main Street. To determine your PSD Voting District, check your Voter Registration card or contact the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections at (843) 470-3751.

Candidates for PSD Commission must file their candidacy with the PSD by noon on July 15, 2008. The necessary forms can be picked up at the PSD Customer Service Center at 21 Oak Park Drive, off Mathews Drive, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

The PSD Commission serves as the policy-making body for Hilton Head PSD, the public drinking water, wastewater treatment, and reclaimed water utility serving more than 17,000 customers in the north- and mid-island areas of Hilton Head Island. The seven-member commission is elected from four voting districts within the PSD. 

For more information about the Hilton Head PSD election, please contact Pete Nardi, PSD Community Relations Manager, at (843) 681-0525 or info@hhpsd.com. 

5/2/08

Hilton Head PSD brings Clemson yard care program to island

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (May 2, 2008) – Hilton Head PSD once again is playing host to the Clemson Extension Service’s environmentally-friendly yard care program, Carolina Yards & Neighborhoods. These free workshops that are open to the public will take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. May 14, 21, and 28, and June 4, 11, and 18. The workshops are held in the Hilton Head PSD Community Room at 21 Oak Park Drive, off Mathews Drive. The program is led by Clemson Horticulture Agent Laura Lee Rose. No reservations are necessary. 

Carolina Yards & Neighborhoods offers a great overview of Lowcountry landscaping techniques. Everyone from homeowners to landscape professionals is invited and encouraged to attend.

Hilton Head PSD, the drinking water and reclaimed water utility for the north- and mid-island areas, wants to provide its customers with efficient watering and landscaping techniques that both protect our island environment and make yard care fun. Clemson’s Carolina Yards & Neighborhoods program teaches participants about plant selection and placement, efficient watering, mulching, responsible pest control, reduction of stormwater runoff, and attracting wildlife. Participants learn the principles that will help them create and maintain an environmentally-friendly “Carolina Yard.”

For more information, please contact Pete Nardi at Hilton Head PSD at (843) 681-0525 or info@hhpsd.com, or Laura Lee Rose, Clemson Horticulture Agent, at (843) 470-3655.

4/11/08

Jenkins Island Road lane closures set for Monday, April 14 

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (April 11, 2008) – Drivers should expect alternating lane closures on Jenkins Island Road from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, April 14, while a Hilton Head Public Service District (PSD) contractor installs utility mains along the road, weather permitting. The contractor will provide traffic control at the site.

The work is being performed as part of Hilton Head PSD’s construction of its Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Facility on Jenkins Island, which will provide PSD customers with drinking water from a new source, the Middle Floridan Aquifer. The facility is being built in order to combat the effects of saltwater intrusion into the fresh water Upper Floridan Aquifer. The PSD has lost the use of four Upper Floridan drinking water wells in the past eight years as a result of the saltwater intrusion, which is caused by overpumping of the Upper Floridan in the Savannah, Ga., area.

12/7/07

East Carolina professor to discuss saltwater intrusion, Dec. 18 at Hilton Head PSD

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (Dec. 7, 2007) – Hilton Head Public Service District (PSD) is sponsoring a public forum on the issue of saltwater intrusion into the Upper Floridan Aquifer, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, in the PSD’s Community Room at 21 Oak Park Drive off Mathews Drive. The discussion will be led by Dr. Richard K. Spruill, Associate Professor of Hydrology at East Carolina University. Dr. Spruill will take questions from the audience after his talk. The forum is free and open to the public.

Dr. Spruill is an expert on the hydrogeology of the Upper Floridan Aquifer, and has worked with Hilton Head PSD on the issue of saltwater intrusion, through his role as principle in the firm of Groundwater Management Associates. He received his Ph.D. in Hydrology from the University of North Carolina.

The Upper Floridan Aquifer is the current source of about half of the public drinking water supply for Hilton Head PSD, which serves more than 17,000 customers in the north- and mid-island areas of Hilton Head Island. The utility has lost four drinking water wells to saltwater intrusion since 2000, including some wells that experienced salt level increases of more than 350 percent. To combat the effects of saltwater intrusion, the PSD is preparing to construct a reverse osmosis drinking water treatment facility that will provide drinking water from a new source – the 600-foot-deep Middle Floridan Aquifer. The $12.5-million facility will initially provide 3 million gallons of drinking water a day, and is anticipated to be in operation in the summer of 2008.

“We want to provide the community with information about saltwater intrusion’s continued impact on our most precious natural resource – water – and to discuss the methods by which Hilton Head PSD plans to continue combating the intrusion,” said PSD Commission Chairman Bob Manne. “We encourage you to be our guest at this important forum.”

For more information about the forum, please contact Pete Nardi, Hilton Head PSD Community Relations Manager, at (843) 681-0525 or info@hhpsd.com.

10/5/07

Hilton Head PSD achieves 90 percent sewer connection

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (Oct. 5, 2007) – Hilton Head PSD is proud to announce that 90 percent of its drinking water customers are now connected to the PSD’s sewer system. This marks a key milestone in the utility’s effort to provide sewer access throughout its service area, and to end property owners’ reliance upon septic systems. Septic systems have been found to be ill-suited for the island’s high groundwater table, resulting in numerous septic tank failures. Failing septic systems can pollute the soil, nearby waterways, and even the groundwater. Both the Hilton Head Town Council and the PSD Commission have adopted goals of eliminating septic tank usage on Hilton Head Island. 

In 2003, the PSD adopted a 10-year, $19.3 million Sewer Master Plan, which outlined the requirements for sewer system access for the nearly 20 percent of properties within the PSD’s service area that lacked sewer access at that time. Since 2003, the PSD and its community partners, such as the Town of Hilton Head Island, have made significant progress toward fulfillment of the Sewer Master Plan. This rapid progress was achieved without an increase in customers’ water and sewer rates. The PSD’s partnership with the Town of Hilton Head Island has seen the Town commit more than $2 million to installing sewer service to its facilities such as parks. The Town also was successful in receiving a Community Development Block Grant that will assist more than 30 homes in the Squire Pope Road area with connection to the sewer system.

 To address the community need for sewer service, the PSD and community partners such as the Town, Project SAFE (Sewer Access For Everyone), the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, The Deep Well Project, and the Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association (NIBCAA), have united in an effort to ensure that low income residents on the island have an opportunity to connect to the sewer system. These groups have launched a concerted effort to identify and pursue alternative funding sources to support the expansion of sewer infrastructure to low income communities and the connection of households to the system. So far, more than $2.5 million in grants has been applied for as a result of this effort.

 Since January 2006, PSD customers have raised more than $65,000 through the PSD’s utility bill round-up program, Bucks for a Better Island. Funds from Bucks for a Better Island are channeled to Project SAFE, which assists low-income property owners in covering the cost of sewer connection.

             The PSD also has made use of improved technology such as low-pressure sewer systems that allow the utility to serve existing neighborhoods without the need for costly and disruptive road reconstruction. Recent low-pressure sewer projects have connected entire neighborhoods to the PSD’s sewer system, including Oak Marsh off Spanish Wells Road, Blue Heron Pointe, and the Sylby Tub apartments off Union Cemetery Road.

             “We are pleased with the significant progress that has been made toward fulfillment of the Sewer Master Plan’s vision,” said PSD General Manager Richard Cyr. “The PSD and its partners will continue to work toward our goal of 100 percent connection to the sewer system, as it represents a key tool in the protection of both public health and our island environment.”

6/28/07

Four candidates file for PSD Commission special election

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (June 28, 2007) – Four candidates have filed for the August 28 special election to fill a seat on the Hilton Head Public Service District Commission from PSD District 3.

The candidates are:  

• Bob Gentzler of Palmetto Hall Plantation. Gentzler spent 25 years with E.I. Dupont in various technical and business management positions. He also served as general manager of new business development for BP Amoco, and worked as an independent consultant. He holds a PhD from the University of Massachusetts, and degrees from Dartmouth College, and Bucknell University.

• Hank Heslop of Port Royal Plantation. Heslop was superintendent of schools in Western, N.Y., for 30 years. He was a guidance counselor, teacher and coach in Central, N.Y., and also had a private consulting practice. He also served as a football official in the Eastern College Athletic Conference. He holds degrees from Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Penn State University.

• Nick Sharr of Port Royal Plantation. Sharr was a senior vice president and director of project management for a national real estate investment trust. He retired as a captain from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He served on the planning and zoning commission for the City of Boca Raton, Fla. He holds a degree in civil engineering from Norwich University in Vermont.

• James R. Wolf of Tabby Walk. Wolf retired as a skilled trade’s electrician from TRW Automotive in Lafayette, Ind. He was an adjunct faculty member of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, teaching electrical and manufacturing processes. He holds an associates degree from Ivy Tech and is completing a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University.

The August 28 special election is being held to fill the PSD Commission seat vacated by the resignation of Frank Durand, who is moving out of the PSD service area. The following precincts will take part in the election: Hilton Head 6A, Hilton Head 6B, Hilton Head 3 (part thereof), and Hilton Head 2 (part thereof).

The PSD Commission is comprised of seven members elected from four districts within the PSD service area. The Commission’s duties include establishing policies, setting long-term goals and strategic plans, adopting the utility’s budget, and selecting and monitoring the performance of the general manager. Hilton Head PSD is the drinking water and reclaimed water utility serving about 17,000 customers in the north- and mid-island areas of Hilton Head Island.

6/21/07

PSD’s new budget holds the line on customer rates

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (June 21, 2007) – The Hilton Head Public Service District Commission on Tuesday approved a fiscal year 2008 budget that contains no customer rate increases. Hilton Head PSD has not raised customer drinking water rates since 1999. The PSD’s 2008 budget calls for $10 million in operating revenues and expenses. Hilton Head PSD is the drinking water and reclaimed water utility serving about 17,000 customers in the north- and mid-island areas of Hilton Head Island. 

            The PSD’s new budget provides for several key projects in the upcoming fiscal year, including: construction of a new drinking water well in the Spanish Wells area; implementation of a Disaster Recovery Plan and revaluation of all PSD assets; completion of several sewer system extension projects; improvements to the utility’s reclaimed water system; and an array of maintenance and replacement projects for the PSD’s water and sewer systems. Replacement projects include switching the disinfectant method used at the PSD’s drinking water wells from chlorine gas to liquid chlorine, as a public safety measure. 

            The new budget anticipates 200 new drinking water customers and more than 300 new sewer customers, while at the same time holding the line on customer rates. Sewer customer growth outpaces water customer growth due to recent opportunities for existing drinking water customers to connect to the public sewer system and end their usage of septic systems. Septic systems have been found to be ill-suited for the island’s high groundwater table and sandy soils. Both the Hilton Head Town Council and the PSD Commission have adopted goals of eliminating septic system usage on the island. 

            The PSD in 2008 will be constructing a reverse osmosis drinking water treatment facility to provide water from a new groundwater source – the 600-foot-deep Middle Floridan Aquifer. Construction of the new facility, which is expected to be use in 2008, will be funded through the PSD’s property tax rate, not customer drinking water rates. 

            “The upcoming year presents a new set of challenges for the PSD,” said General Manager Richard Cyr. “I believe the utility has never been in a better position to meet those challenges.”

5/4/07

Clemson lawn care program continues at Hilton Head PSD Thursdays in May and June

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (May 4, 2007) – Hilton Head PSD is playing host to the Clemson Extension Service’s environmentally-friendly garden and lawn care program, “Carolina Yards & Neighborhoods,” every Thursday in May and June, starting at 11 a.m. in the Hilton Head PSD Community Room at 21 Oak Park Drive, off Mathews Drive. The program, which offers a great overview of Lowcountry landscaping techniques, is free and open to the public. Everyone from homeowners to landscape professionals is invited and encouraged to attend. The program is led by Clemson Horticulture Agent Laura Lee Rose. No reservations are necessary. The next session takes place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 10.

Hilton Head PSD, the drinking water and reclaimed water utility for the north- and mid-island areas, wants to provide its customers with efficient watering and landscaping techniques that both protect our island environment and make yard care fun. Clemson’s Carolina Yards & Neighborhoods program teaches participants about plant selection and placement, efficient watering, mulching, responsible pest control, reduction of stormwater runoff, and attracting wildlife. Participants learn the principles that will help them create and maintain an environmentally-friendly “Carolina Yard.”

For more information, please contact Pete Nardi at Hilton Head PSD at (843) 681-0525, or Laura Lee Rose, Clemson Horticulture Agent, at (843) 470-3655.

4/12/07

Hilton Head PSD hosting Clemson lawn care program every Thursday in May and June

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (April 12, 2007) – Hilton Head PSD is playing host to the Clemson Extension Service’s environmentally-friendly garden and lawn care program, “Carolina Yards & Neighborhoods,” every Thursday in May and June, starting at 11 a.m. in the Hilton Head PSD Community Room at 21 Oak Park Drive, off Mathews Drive. The program, which offers a great overview of Lowcountry landscaping techniques, is free and open to the public. Everyone from homeowners to landscape professionals is invited and encouraged to attend. The program is led by Clemson Horticulture Agent Laura Lee Rose.

 Hilton Head PSD, the drinking water and reclaimed water utility for the north- and mid-island areas, wants to provide its customers with efficient watering and landscaping techniques that both protect our island environment and make yard care fun. Clemson’s Carolina Yards & Neighborhoods program teaches participants about plant selection and placement, efficient watering, mulching, responsible pest control, reduction of stormwater runoff, and attracting wildlife. Participants learn the principles that will help them create and maintain an environmentally-friendly “Carolina Yard.”

 For more information, please contact Pete Nardi at Hilton Head PSD at (843) 681-0525, or Laura Lee Rose, Clemson Horticulture Agent, at (843) 470-3655.

2/26/07

Hilton Head PSD playing host to Clemson’s Master Gardener course

 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (February 26, 2007) – The Clemson University Extension Service is bringing its Master Gardener Training Course to Hilton Head Public Service District starting April 4 in the Hilton Head PSD Community Room. Interested individuals must submit an application to the Clemson Extension Service no later than March 15. Applications are available by calling Laura Lee Rose, Clemson Horticulture Agent for Beaufort County, at (843) 470-3655.

 Classes will take place Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Hilton Head PSD Community Room, at 21 Oak Park Drive, off Mathews Drive. The course runs until mid-July.

 The program trains participants to be general horticulturists, and graduates are asked to volunteer their expertise through the Clemson Extension Service. The program helps Clemson Extension Service better serve the community by training residents to use their skills and talents to share gardening techniques with friends, neighbors and community groups. Hilton Head PSD, the drinking water and reclaimed water utility for the north- and mid-island areas of Hilton Head Island, is partnering with Clemson Extension Service to help residents learn environmentally-friendly landscaping and irrigation techniques for their Lowcountry property.

 Applicants must be approved by the Clemson Extension Service, and the fee for the training is $200, which covers a complete set of Master Gardener reference materials. Spouses can participate by sharing materials and paying an additional $30 fee.  

7/26/06

PSD adjusts sewer rates to meet maintenance demands

            HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (July 26, 2006) – The Hilton Head Public Service District Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to raise the volume charge for sewer service from $1.65 to $1.90 per 1,000 gallons of water used per month – a 0.25-cent increase. The PSD caps residential sewer rates at 10,000 gallons of water used per month, and the most a customer can pay in sewer rates each month is $31. The rate adjustment is effective August 1. 

          The PSD Commission approved the rate adjustment in order to meet the costs of maintaining and repairing an aging public sewer system. The PSD is faced with several upcoming sewer pipe repair and maintenance projects, including a project to repair the large sewer main underneath Mathews Drive, which feeds into the PSD’s Reclaimed Water Plant on Oak Park Drive. Sewer rates are not used for system expansion to serve new customers. 

          Residential sewer rates are capped at 10,000 gallons of water used per month, in order to reduce the amount of sewer charges homeowners pay to irrigate their landscaping. The figure of 10,000 gallons per month is the average amount used by households for indoor purposes, such as drinking, bathing, cooking, and washing.

6/5/06

Cyr accepts long-term contract as PSD general manager

             HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (June 5, 2006) – Hilton Head Public Service District General Manager Richard Cyr has accepted a six-year contract from the Hilton Head PSD Commission to remain as general manager of the drinking water and reclaimed water utility that serves the north and mid-island areas of Hilton Head Island. Cyr joined the PSD in 2003, after serving for more than 30 years with Clark Public Utilities in Vancouver, Wash.

             “I am thrilled that the PSD Commission has given me the chance to continue the excellent progress we’ve made here at the PSD in the last three years,” said Cyr. “There are several key challenges facing the PSD in the coming years and it is an honor to receive the Commission’s vote of confidence to continue our work to provide the PSD’s customers with top-quality drinking water and a state-of-the-art reclaimed water system.”

             The PSD is working to identify a safe and long-term drinking water supply for the island’s future, in the face of continued saltwater intrusion into the Upper Floridan groundwater aquifer – the source of about half of the PSD’s drinking water supply. The utility also is in the process of implementing a Sewer Master Plan to provide sewer access to the 20 percent of properties in its service area that currently lack access to the public sewer system, and instead rely upon septic systems that are ill-suited for the island’s high groundwater table and sandy soils.

             “Richard has done an outstanding job of leading the PSD during a time of tremendous challenges for both our drinking water and wastewater services,” said PSD Commission Chairman Bob Manne. “The Commission unanimously voted to extend this long-term contract offer to Richard in order to ensure that his leadership continues to guide the utility for years to come.”

5/16/06

Union Cemetery Road repairs today and Thursday

             HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (May 17, 2006) – Drivers should use caution on Union Cemetery Road today and Thursday as Hilton Head Public Service District works to repair the road surface following a water main break that occurred late Tuesday night. Flagmen are limiting traffic to one lane on Union Cemetery Road near the site of a sinkhole that resulted from the main break. Repairs are expected to be completed by Thursday evening.

4/7/2006

Holiday Homes water and sewer project starts April 11

            HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (April 7, 2006) –A sewer installation and water line improvement project for the Holiday Homes neighborhood will start at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11. Construction crews will begin the project on Mimosa Street. The construction contractor will handle traffic control at the site. Drivers should use caution in the construction area. 

            The Holiday Homes project will provide 56 properties on Oleander, Azalea, Camelia, Gardenia, and Mimosa streets with access to the public sewer system, and upgraded water distribution lines. The project, which will include road reconstruction, is expected to take about three months to complete. 

            The Holiday Homes area currently relies upon septic systems to treat household wastewater. Septic systems have been shown to be ill-suited for the island’s high groundwater table and sandy soils. The sewer project is part of a Hilton Head PSD initiative to provide sewer access to neighborhoods within its service area that currently do not have access to the public sewer system and rely upon septic systems.

4/3/2006

Folly Field Road lane closure Tuesday

            HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (April 3, 2006) – One lane of Folly Field Road will be closed to traffic between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, as Hilton Head Public Service District continues a water and sewer installation project to serve the Holiday Homes neighborhood off Folly Field Road. The construction contractor will handle traffic control at the site. Drivers should expect delays, be prepared to stop, and follow signals from flagmen.

3/13/06

Holiday Homes community meeting is March 24

             HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (March 13, 2006) – Hilton Head Public Service District will hold an informational meeting for property owners and residents in the Holiday Homes neighborhood at 6 p.m. Friday, March 24, in the PSD Community Room at 21 Oak Park Drive off Mathews Drive, to discuss an upcoming water and sewer project for the neighborhood. Project estimates, timelines, and financing options will be discussed at the meeting. 

          Hilton Head PSD plans a sewer installation project as well as an upgrade of the existing drinking water distribution system in the neighborhood. The Holiday Homes neighborhood comprises Oleander, Azalea, Camelia, Gardenia, and Mimosa streets off Folly Field Road. The project will serve 55 properties in the area.

           For more information, please call Pete Nardi, PSD Community Relations Manager, at (843) 681-0525 or info@hhpsd1.com.

3/10/06

Town-PSD delegation push for sewer grant funding

              WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 10, 2006) – Town of Hilton Head Island and Hilton Head Public Service District officials met Thursday with federal representatives on Capitol Hill to discuss a request for $1.36 million in sewer grant funding to help low income families on Hilton Head Island connect to the public sewer system. 

            Mayor Tom Peeples, Town Manager Steve Riley, PSD Commission Chairman Bob Manne, and PSD General Manager Richard Cyr met with U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint, U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, and staff members for U.S. Reps. Jim Clyburn and Gresham Barrett. Discussions centered on the Town and PSD’s request for a $1.36 million grant to help low income families cover sewer connection costs. Town and PSD officials also took the opportunity to discuss U.S. 278 funding, hurricane preparedness, insurance issues related to hurricane recovery and opportunities for law enforcement grants with these federal representatives and their staffs.

 “I thought it was a very productive series of meetings touching on a wide range of topics,” said Mayor Peeples. “Our primary focus was the extension of sewer service to those without the means to connect themselves. The level of cooperation between the Town and the PSD clearly showed and was positively received.”

             The Town and PSD are working together to provide sewer access for the approximately 20 percent of properties in the north- and mid-island areas that currently lack access to the public sewer system and rely instead on septic tanks that are ill-suited for the island’s high groundwater table and sandy soils. Approximately $12 million in sewer infrastructure remains to be installed to provide the access, but that cost does not include the costs associated with connecting individual homes to the sewer system. The federal dollars being sought would help 680 low income households cover $2,000 each in sewer connection costs. The Town and PSD also are working together on a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant request to the State of South Carolina to install sewer lines for low income homes in the Squire Pope Road area.

            “Our federal representatives were very supportive of the grant request,” said PSD Commission Chairman Manne. “With the amount of septic tanks that continue to fail on the island, it is imperative that we obtain the funding needed to help people connect to the sewer system. Our sincere thanks goes out to Congressman Joe Wilson and his staff for taking the lead in this important initiative to protect public health and safeguard the island’s environment.”

3/9/06

Folly Field Road lane closures continue through March 14

             HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (March 9, 2006) – Drivers should expect alternating lane closures at the intersection of Folly Field Road and William Hilton Parkway between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 10-14, as Hilton Head Public Service District installs a sewer main under Folly Field Road. Drivers should expect some delays. The work at the intersection of Folly Field Road and William Hilton Parkway (U.S. 278) is being performed in order to provide sewer service to the Holiday Homes neighborhood off of Folly Field Road. The construction contractor is coordinating traffic control with the Town of Hilton Head Island. 

            The Holiday Homes sewer project is part of a Hilton Head PSD initiative to provide sewer access to neighborhoods within its service area that currently do not have access to the public sewer system and rely upon septic systems. Septic systems have been shown to be ill-suited for the island’s high groundwater table and sandy soils.

3/6/06

Hilton Head PSD cuts Sewer Capacity Fee by 37 percent 

            HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (March 6, 2006) – Hilton Head Public Service District has reduced its Sewer Capacity Fee by 37 percent. The fee is designed to cover the PSD’s cost of installing backbone sewer infrastructure to provide sewer access to the approximately 20 percent of properties in the north- and mid-island areas that currently do not have access to the public sewer system. The PSD began the 10-year, $20-million effort to provide access in 2004. Now, approximately $12 million in PSD infrastructure projects remains to be completed under this program.

             “The reduction of the Sewer Capacity Fee is good news for the PSD and its customers, as it reflects our progress in completing these vital projects to provide sewer service throughout the island,” said PSD General Manager Richard Cyr. “The PSD is committed to reviewing the Sewer Capacity Fee on an annual basis, and making adjustments that reflect the true cost of installing the backbone sewer infrastructure.”

             The Hilton Head PSD Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 28 to reduce the Sewer Capacity Fee from $4,840 to $3,040 per household. The reduction is the result of three key developments in the sewer access program:

• A commitment by the Town of Hilton Head Island to complete $2.6 million in projects to provide sewer service to Town facilities, such as parks.
• The PSD’s introduction of low-pressure sewer system technology to serve existing neighborhoods without the need for costly gravity sewer main installations and subsequent road repairs.
• The completion of several sewer infrastructure projects.

             The Sewer Capacity Fee is a one-time charge to new development or to new customers, where money has not been previously paid, to cover the cost of system extensions or upgrades required to provide sewer services. The PSD developed its Sewer Capacity Fee by calculating a new customer’s pro rata share of the PSD system expansions and upgrades necessary to provide sewer access to all unserved areas within the PSD.

             The PSD is seeking grants from an array of sources, and using its own Bucks for a Better Island utility bill round-up program, to help low income customers cover sewer connection costs, such as the Sewer Capacity Fee. Also, the Town and PSD are working together on a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant application for low income sewer projects. The Town is planning to submit the CDBG application to the State of South Carolina this spring

2/28/06

Hilton Head PSD elections move to even-numbered years

             HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (Feb. 28, 2006) – Hilton Head Public Service District Commission elections will be held in even-numbered years starting with the elections of November 2008. The move is taking place in order to have PSD Commission elections coincide with other local elections, as well as state and federal elections.

             State Reps. Richard Chalk and Bill Herbkersman, whose districts include the Hilton Head PSD service area, introduced a bill in the South Carolina General Assembly to have the PSD Commission elections moved from odd-numbered to even-numbered years. Gov. Mark Sanford signed the bill into law on Feb. 17.

             “We’re happy to have this bill approved for the PSD,” said Rep. Chalk. “Hopefully, the impact will be to improve voter participation in the election process.”

             The PSD Commission sought the change after the Town of Hilton Head Island moved its municipal elections to even-numbered years. The PSD was concerned about possible low voter turnout if it were the only entity holding elections in odd-numbered years. Also, the PSD could have seen its election costs nearly double if there were no other elections on the ballot in an odd-numbered year. The Town Council and Beaufort County Council both endorsed the PSD election schedule shift.

             “We’re thrilled to give Hilton Head voters the chance to vote on their local representation at one time,” said PSD Commission Chairman Bob Manne. “The PSD extends its sincere appreciation to Reps. Chalk and Herbkersman, State Sen. Scott Richardson, and the entire Beaufort County Delegation for championing this legislation.”

             As a result of the legislation, the seven current members of the PSD Commission will have their terms lengthened by one year, in order to have the next elections take place in even-numbered years.

             “We’re glad to be a part of this effort, to make it work for the residents and customers of the PSD,” said Sen. Richardson. “Congratulations to the PSD.”

             The Hilton Head PSD Commission is the policy-making body for Hilton Head PSD, the drinking water, wastewater, and reclaimed water utility for the north- and mid-island areas of Hilton Head Island. The Commission meets in the Hilton Head PSD Community Room, at 21 Oak Park Drive off Mathews Drive, on the fourth Tuesday of each month

2/28/06

Folly Field Road lane closures set for March 6 – 10; sewer access projects move forward 

            HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (Feb. 28, 2006) – Drivers should expect alternating lane closures at the intersection of Folly Field Road and William Hilton Parkway between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 6 through March 10 as Hilton Head Public Service District installs a sewer main under Folly Field Road. Drivers should expect some delays. The work at the intersection of Folly Field Road and William Hilton Parkway (U.S. 278) is being performed in order to provide sewer service to the Holiday Homes neighborhood off of Folly Field Road. The construction contractor will be coordinating traffic control with the Town of Hilton Head Island. 

            The Holiday Homes sewer project is part of a Hilton Head PSD initiative to provide sewer access to neighborhoods within its service area that currently do not have access to the public sewer system and rely upon septic systems. Septic systems have been shown to be ill-suited for the island’s high groundwater table and sandy soils. 

            The PSD recently completed construction of a regional sewer lift station in the Chaplin area off of William Hilton Parkway. The regional lift station, located on property provided by the Town of Hilton Head Island, allows the PSD to provide sewer access to the Chaplin area and neighborhoods such as Holiday Homes. The lift station is part of the PSD’s 10-year, $20-million Sewer Master Plan to provide sewer access to the 20 percent of properties in the north- and mid-island areas that currently do not have access to the public sewer system. The Town and PSD are partnering on an array of Sewer Master Plan projects

1/19/06

Hilton Head PSD loses another well to saltwater intrusion

            HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (Jan. 19, 2006) – Hilton Head PSD has been forced to take another of its Upper Floridan Aquifer groundwater wells out of production due to saltwater intrusion into the aquifer. The well, known as the Airport Well and located off Dillon Road, will no longer be used to produce drinking water. It will remain available for emergency purposes only, such as firefighting.

             “The loss of the Airport Well is a direct result of the Savannah region’s over-pumping of the Upper Floridan Aquifer,” said Hilton Head PSD General Manager Richard Cyr. “Hilton Head PSD and its customers are feeling the point-blank impact of Georgia’s unwillingness to sustain and manage this vital groundwater resource.”

             A recent study by the states of South Carolina and Georgia, and the U.S. Geological Survey, showed that the saltwater intrusion is being caused by over-pumping of the aquifer in the Savannah, Ga., area. Hilton Head PSD has joined with the State of South Carolina in calling for better management of the aquifer resource on the part of Georgia authorities.

             Salt levels in the Airport Well increased more than 355 percent in the past five years. While the increased salt levels do not pose a health risk, they do adversely affect the taste and hardness of the drinking water.

             Airport Well is the fourth well that Hilton Head PSD has lost to saltwater intrusion since 2000. The PSD is drilling a replacement well into the Upper Floridan Aquifer in the Spanish Wells area. The new well does not increase the island’s annual allocation of Upper Floridan groundwater, which is capped by the State of South Carolina.

             Hilton Head PSD is actively involved in several measures aimed at the responsible management of the Upper Floridan Aquifer. All wastewater treated by the PSD’s Reclaimed Water Plant is recycled into reclaimed water and used as irrigation for 12 golf courses on the island. The PSD purchases treated Savannah River surface water to use as an alternate source of drinking water. The utility also is in the process of exploring the use of the deeper Middle Floridan Aquifer as a future water supply. The PSD this month drilled a test well into the Middle Floridan on Jenkins Island. Both the utility and the State Department of Health and Environmental Control will monitor the test well to determine the Middle Floridan’s viability as a long-term drinking water source for Hilton Head.

             “We will continue our proactive approach toward sustaining the Upper Floridan Aquifer – which remains our freshest and least expensive source of drinking water,” said Cyr. “It is our hope that the state of Georgia will choose to join us in these efforts to preserve our groundwater resource for future generations.”

1/14/06

Island utility receives 'A' bond rating

The Hilton Head Public Service District received an 'A' bond rating from Standard & Poor's on Thursday, prompting the utility's commission to refinance the district's $19.5 million series 1998 bonds. The move should save the district more than $1 million in interest payments.

The district is expected to close on the refinancing Feb. 2.

Standard & Poor's cited the district's growing service area, developed infrastructure and strong debt service coverage as reasons for the 'A' rating.