When the City of Greenville first began looking at costs for repairing its ailing sewer system in 2013, the initial cost was about $13 million.
By April 2016, after the city signed the Environmental Protection Agency’s partial consent decree, which mandates the city fix its sanitary sewer overflows over a six-year period, the price had skyrocketed to more than $20 million. By the end of 2017, the city was facing a $37.5 million bill.
kAm%9@D6 4@DED 2C6 2DEC@?@>:42= 7@C 2 9:89 A@G6CEJ 2C62 =@42E65 :? E96 |:DD:DD:AA: s6=E2[ H96C6 =:>:E65 C6G6?F6D >62? 4@DED >FDE 72== @? E9@D6 H9@ 42? =62DE 277@C5 :E]k^Am
kAm“$6H6C DJDE6>D 2C6 6IA6?D:G6 E@ @A6C2E6 2?5 >2:?E2:?] !6C:@5] %96 4:EJ :D ?@H F?56C 2? @C56C E@ C6A2:C E96:C DJDE6>[ H9:49 >62?D :7 H6 42?’E 7:?5 8C2?E 7F?5D E@ A2J 7@C :E[ :E H:== 72== @? E96 4:E:K6?D @7 vC66?G:==6 E@ A2J 7@C :E[” D2:5 q:== qFC=6[ @7 (] {] qFC=6 t?8:?66CD[ H9:49 :D @G6CD66:?8 E96 D6H6C C6A2:CD]k^Am
kAmp?5 E92E’D 6I24E=J H92E 92D 92AA6?65] k^Am
kAmx? 2? 677@CE E@ C65F46 E96 563E :?4FCC65 3J E9:D AC@;64E[ 4:EJ @77:4:2=D 28C665 E@ C2:D6 H2E6C C2E6D :?4C6>6?E2==J @G6C E96 ?6IE 564256] k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 3:8 4@DE 2?5 H96? J@F 92G6 2 E@H? =:<6 vC66?G:==6 E92E’D DECF88=:?8 H:E9 :DDF6D 2D 72C 2D C6G6?F6 :D 4@?46C?65 2?5 AC@5F4E:@? @7 C6G6?F6[ E92E’D H96C6 E96 CF336C >66ED E96 C@25 2?5 :E 364@>6D G6CJ 92C5 @? E96 4:E:K6?D E@ 92G6 E@ A2J 7@C E9:D E9C@F89 D6H6C 2?5 H2E6C C2E6D[” D2:5 7@C>6C vC66?G:==6 |2J@C y@9? r@I[ H9@ H2D E96 E@A 4:EJ @77:4:2= H96? E96 t!p >2?52E65 E96 !@CE r:EJ 255C6DD :ED 72:=:?8 D6H6C DJDE6>]k^Am
kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8mx?DA64E:@? =6EE6C k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmr@I 3642>6 2H2C6 @7 E96 4:EJ’D D6H6C :DDF6D D9@CE=J 27E6C 96 E@@< @77:46 :? y2?F2CJ a_`b] p3@FE E96 D2>6 E:>6 96 H2D D6EE=:?8 :?E@ 9:D ?6H D62E 2E r:EJ w2== 96 C646:G65 2 =6EE6C 7C@> E96 |:DD:DD:AA: s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?G:C@?>6?E2= "F2=:EJ 2?5 t!p C6BF6DE:?8 E@ :?DA64E E96 4:EJ’D D6H6C DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm“%96J 2C6 E6==:?8 FD E92E E96J H2?E E@ :?DA64E @FC DJDE6> @C E92E E96J 92G6 4@?46C?D 23@FE E96 DJDE6> @C E92E E9:D :D A2CE @7 2? @?\8@:?8 t!p AC@;64E E@ 368:? =@@<:?8 2E E96 D2?:E2E:@? DJDE6>D @7 4:E:6D[” r@I C642==65]k^Am
kAm%96 =6EE6C D9@F=5?’E 92G6 4@>6 2D 2 DFCAC:D6 E@ 4:EJ @77:4:2=D]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 E96J 5:5?’E <?@H E96 6IE6?E @7 E96 D6H6C’D 4@?5:E:@?[ E96J 5:5 <?@H 7@C>6C vC66?G:==6 =6256CD 925 5676CC65 >2:?E6?2?46 @G6C >2?J 564256D]k^Am
kAmq642FD6 :DDF6D H:E9 E96 D6H6C DJDE6> H6C6 =67E F?255C6DD65 7@C J62CD[ AC@3=6>D 8C6H 6IA@?6?E:2==J] &?7@CEF?2E6=J[ D:>A=6 C@FE:?6 >2:?E6?2?46 4@F=5 92G6 8C62E=J C65F465 E96D6 :DDF6D E96 4:EJ :D ?@H A2J:?8 7@C]k^Am
kAmvC66?G:==6’D D6H6C DJDE6> H2D ?@E E96 @?=J @?6 |st" 2?5 E96 t!p H6C6 :?DA64E:?8[ E9@F89] %96J H6C6 2=D@ =@@<:?8 2E w2EE:6D3FC8[ y24<D@?[ |6C:5:2?[ $E2C<G:==6 2?5 ':4<D3FC8]k^Am
kAm%96 :?DA64E:@? C6G62=65 E92E 7C@> u63CF2CJ a__f E@ yF=J a_`a[ vC66?G:==6 4@>>:EE65 ?F>6C@FD G:@=2E:@?D 282:?DE E96 }2E:@?2= !@==FE2?E s:D492C86 t=:>:?2E:@? $JDE6> !6C>:E 2?5 E96 7656C2= r=62? (2E6C p4E[ :?4=F5:?8 “F?2FE9@C:K65 5:D492C86D :?E@ ?2G:823=6 H2E6CDj 72:=FC6 E@ 4@>A=J H:E9 E96 }!st$ A6C>:E 4@?5:E:@?D 7@C @A6C2E:@? 2?5 >2:?E6?2?46 @7 :ED D2?:E2CJ D6H6C DJDE6>[ 677=F6?E 5:D492C86 =:>:E2E:@?D 2?5 E:>6=J C6A@CE:?8 @7 ?@?4@>A=:2?46[” 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 =:DE @? E96 t!p’D r=62? (2E6C $6EE=6>6?E #6D@FC46D H63A286]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96 4:EJ 72465 D6G6C2= G:@=2E:@?D[ qFC=6 D2:5 D@>6 @7 E96> H6C6 F?72:C] k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ E96 AC@3=6>D 3@E9 286?4:6D 7@F?5 H:E9 E96 4:EJ’D H2DE6H2E6C 4@==64E:@?\2?5\EC62E>6?E DJDE6>D 2?5 E96 9F?5C65D @7 D2?:E2CJ D6H6C @G6C7=@HD W$$~X 5:5 ?@E 92AA6? 2D 7C6BF6?E=J 2D E96 C6A@CE :?5:42E65]k^Am
kAm“%96 4:EJ[ :? E96 A2DE[ H@F=5 4=62? @FE D6H6C =2E6C2=D ;FDE 2D 2 D6CG:46 2?5 E96 t!p =@@<65 2E 6249 @7 E9@D6 6G6?ED 2D 2 A@DD:3=6 $$~D] %92E H2D @?6 @7 E96 3:886DE :DDF6D H6 925 E@ 6IA=2:? E@ E96>[” qFC=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr@I D2:5 E96 H2J E96 4:EJ EC24<65 D6H6C 4=62?:?8D 2?5 @E96C 24E:G:E:6D >256 :E 5:77:4F=E E@ D2J 7@C 46CE2:? 9@H >2?J E:>6D @G6C7=@HD 24EF2==J @44FCC65]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< @FC A@D:E:@? H2D C:89E[ 3FE E96 H2J :E H2D 6?E6C65 :? E96 DJDE6> — @FC C64@C5 <66A:?8 — H2D ?@E 567:?:E6 6?@F89 E@ :56?E:7J[ D@ 6G6CJ3@5J ;FDE 2DDF>65 E92E E96J H6C6 @G6C7=@HD H96? AC@323=J E96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ H6C6 ?@E[” r@I D2:5] k^Am
kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8mp55C6DD:?8 E96 :DDF6D k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp7E6C r@I 2?5 r:EJ r@F?4:= >6>36CD H6C6 >256 2H2C6 @7 E96 D6H6C :DDF6D[ E96J 2DD6>3=65 2 E62> 4@>AC:D65 @7 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D[ 6?8:?66CD 2?5 =2HJ6CD E@ 255C6DD E96 :DDF6D 4@?46C?:?8 E96 4:EJ’D D6H6C DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm“(6 925 >66E:?8D H:E9 t!p @77:4:2=D[ @?6 :? (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r][ 2?5 @?6 :? pE=2?E2] %96? 3682? 2 A6C:@5 @7 ?68@E:2E:@? H:E9 E96> 7@C 23@FE 2 J62C 2?5 2 92=7 :? E6C>D @7 H92E H6 76=E H2D ?646DD2CJ G6CDFD H92E E96J 76=E H2D ?646DD2CJ[” r@I D2:5]k^Am
kAmr@I D:8?65 E96 A2CE:2= 4@?D6?E 564C66 s64] b_[ a_`d[ 9:D =2DE 52J :? @77:46 2D >2J@C]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 A2A6CH@C< H2D D:8?65[ vC66?G:==6 3642>6 E96 7:CDE 4:EJ E@ C646:G6 E92E EJA6 @7 564C66[ qFC=6 D2:5[ 6IA=2:?:?8 E96 t!p 2==@H65 E96> “E@ =62G6 @?6\E9:C5 @7 E96 DJDE6> 2=@?6 2?5 C6G:D:E :E :? D:I J62CD]”k^Am
kAm(96? r@I D:8?65 E96 28C66>6?E[ ?6:E96C 96 ?@C E96 t!p <?6H @7 E96 :DDF6D E92E H@F=5 36 5:D4@G6C65 E9C@F89 E96 2DD6DD>6?E H@C< :? ~4E@36C a_`f[ 9@H6G6C] k^Am
kAm“(6 ?68@E:2E65 7@C E96 36DE 2?5 >@DE ?646DD2CJ A2CED @7 E96 DJDE6> E92E H6[ E96? 2E E92E E:>6[ <?6H ?66565 H@C<[” r@I D2:5]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 ?68@E:2E:@?D[ E96 4:EJ DEC@?8=J 25G@42E65 7@C 4@?5F4E:?8 E96 2DD6DD>6?ED E@ D66 H92E E96J >:89E 36 724:?8[ qFC=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“(6 EC:65 E@ 86E E96> E@ A92D6 E96 4@?D6?E 564C66 :? 3J =6EE:?8 FD 2DD6DD E96 DJDE6> 7:CDE D@ H6’5 92G6 2 36EE6C A:4EFC6 @7 6I24E=J H92E H6 92G6[ 3FE E96J H2?E65 E@ G:D:E E9:D @?6 E:>6[” 96 D2:5] “(6 H6?E :?E@ E9:D 2 =:EE=6 3:E 3=:?5 3642FD6 E96 DJDE6> 92D ?@E 366? =@@<65 2E =:<6 H6’C6 =@@<:?8 2E :E ?@H D:?46 `hff]”k^Am
kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8mt!p t2C=J p4E:@? !C@;64Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$:?46 E96 4:EJ 7:CDE 3682? 255C6DD:?8 :ED 2:=:?8 D6H6C DJDE6> 7:G6 J62CD 28@[ E96J 92G6 >256 EC6>6?5@FD AC@8C6DD[ qFC=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqJ |2C49[ 4C6HD D9@F=5 36 7:?:D965 H:E9 E96 t!p’D Se]b >:==:@? t2C=J p4E:@? !C@;64E[ E96 7:CDE D6H6C C6923:=:E2E:@? AC@;64E F?56C E96 t!p’D r@>A=:2?46 tG2=F2E:@? x?DA64E:@? C6A@CE 7C@> a_`b] k^Am
kAm%96 2C62D 7@C C6923:=:E2E:@? :56?E:7:65 3J :?DA64E@CD 4@?D:DED @7 7:G6 :?:E:2= AC@;64ED[ 2== @7 H9:49 H6C6 56G6=@A65 367@C6 E96 564C66 H2D D:8?65]k^Am
kAm“%9@D6 H6C6 :>AC@G6>6?ED E92E H6C6 C6BF6DE65 @7 E96 t!p 7C@> E96 @?D6E] %96J H6C6 7:?6\EF?65 @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 E96 4@?D6?E 564C66 @C E96 D92A:?8 @7 E96 4@?D6?E 564C66] %96J H6C6 2== :?:E:2= AC@;64ED E96 t!p H2?E65[” qFC=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 AC@;64ED :?4=F565ik^Am
kF=mk=:m:?DE2==:?8 7:G6 A@CE23=6 6>6C86?4J 3JA2DD AF>AD^BF:4< 5:D4@??64E A:A:?8 2?5 7:G6 82D 7:C65 86?6C2E@CD 7@C E96 |2CJ[ s2?:6=[ w2?4@4<[ %96@32=5 DEC66ED 2?5 %6??6DD66 v2D #@25 AF>A DE2E:@?Djk^=:mk=:mC6923:=:E2E:?8 E96 F=EC2 G:@=6E 5:D:?764E:@? DJDE6> 2E E96 4:EJ’D H2DE6H2E6C EC62E>6?E A=2?E 2?5 C6A=246>6?E @7 E96 A=2?E’D dc :?49 D6H6C =:?6j 2?5k^=:mk=:m:?DE2==:?8 DFA6CG:D@CJ 4@?EC@= 2?5 52E2 24BF:D:E:@? W$rpspX DJDE6>D^7=@H >6E6CD 7@C ff AF>A DE2E:@?D]k^=:mk^F=m
kAm$:?46 E96?[ EH@ 255:E:@?2= AC@;64ED 92G6 366? 25565[ :?4=F5:?8 r@?EC24E }@] e 7@C C6A2:CD E@ 2 DF3DE2E:@? 2E E96 4:EJ’D H2DE6 H2E6C EC62E>6?E A=2?E 2?5 r@?EC24E }@] f :?G@=G:?8 E96 $@FE9 %96@32=5 2?5 w2?4@4< AF>A DE2E:@?D]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 2== E92E H@C<[ 4C6HD 5:5 7:?5 2?5 255C6DD65 @E96C ?68=64E65 2C62D @7 E96 D6H6C DJDE6> E92E ?66565 :>>65:2E6 2EE6?E:@?[ qFC=6 6IA=2:?65[ 255:?8 E9@D6 255:E:@?2= AC@;64ED C6BF:C65 E96 4:EJ E@ FD6 7F?5D 7C@> 2 =@2? A24<286]k^Am
kAm“(6 FD65 E96 =@2? 2D 2 >6492?:D> E@ 7F?5 @E96C AC@;64ED E92E H6 7@F?5 ?66565 :>>65:2E6 2EE6?E:@?[” qFC=6 D2:5]k^Am
kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8muFEFC6 AC@;64ED k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 E96 t2C=J p4E:@? !C@;64E :D 6IA64E65 E@ 36 4@>A=6E65 23@FE `g >@?E9D 29625 @7 D4965F=6[ E96C6’D DE:== 2 =@E @7 H@C< E@ 36 5@?6 @? E96 D6H6C DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm%9:D J62C[ 4C6HD 2C6 7@4FD65 @? E96 $2?:E2CJ $6H6C tG2=F2E:@? $EF5:6D W$$t$X b 2?5 c[ H9:49 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 36 4@>A=6E65 =2E6C E9:D DAC:?8]k^Am
kAm%96 4@>A=6E65 $$t$ ` 2?5 a 2?5 ?62C=J 4@>A=6E65 $$t$ b 4@?E2:? “E96 H@CDE @7 E96 DJDE6>[” H9:49 :?4=F56D E96 vC@FA ` >:?:\DJDE6>D[ qFC=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 DEF5:6D H6C6 4@?5F4E65 AC:>2C:=J 2=@?8 E96 ?@CE9 6?5 @7 E96 4:EJ[ :? 2?5 2C@F?5 5@H?E@H? H:E9 2 76H 2C62D E@ E96 D@FE9 @7 E96 4:EJ]k^Am
kAm$$t$ c :?4=F56D E96 6?E:C6 vC@FA a >:?:\DJDE6>D[ H9:49 6I46AE 7@C E96 :?5FDEC:2= 2C62 @? |:DD:DD:AA: ` }@CE9[ AC:>2C:=J =:6D 2=@?8 E96 A6C:A96C2=D 2?5 D@FE96C? 6?5 @7 E96 4:EJ]k^Am
kAm%96 C646?E=J 2AAC@G65 $$t$ d :?4=F56D AF>A DE2E:@? 2DD6DD>6?ED[ H9:49 H2D C64@>>6?565 3J E96 !F3=:4 (@C<D r@>>:EE66 2?5 2AAC@G65 3J E96 r:EJ r@F?4:= :? y2?F2CJ]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 ?68@E:2E:@? A92D6 7@C E96 564C66[ qFC=6 4@>A=6E65 E96 vp}%% 492CE[ H9:49 D9@HD E96 D4965F=6 7@C :>A=6>6?E2E:@? 2?5 4@>A=:2?46 @7 E96 4@?D6?E 564C66 E9C@F89 2DD6DD>6?E[ AC@8C2>D 2?5 4@?DECF4E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96 564C66 H6?E :?E@ 67764E pAC:= c[ a_`e[ 2?5 :D D4965F=65 E@ 6?5 :? pAC:= a_aa] w@H6G6C[ E92E H:== =:<6=J 492?86 27E6C E96 C6A@CE 7@C E96 vC@FA b >:?:\DJDE6>’D C6A@CE :D 4@>A=6E65 :? s646>36C a_`h[ qFC=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“pE E92E E:>6[ :7 E96C6 2C6 :>AC@G6>6?ED @C C6A2:CD E92E 2C6 ?66565[ E96J’== 2>6?5 :E 2?5 8:G6 FD >@C6 E:>6 E@ 255C6DD :E] $@ :E H:== AC@323=J 8@ A2DE E96 D:I\J62C E:>67C2>6[” qFC=6 D2:5]k^Am
kA DEJ=6lQE6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6CjQmkDEC@?8m{24< @7 7:?2?46D 56=2J:?8 F?7:?:D965 D6H6C H@C<k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmpD E96 4:EJ AC@8C6DD6D H:E9 D6H6C H@C<[ E96J 2=D@ 2C6 255:?8 E@ E96:C 563E[ H9:49[ :? EFC?[ 27764ED E96 4:EJ’D 52J\E@\52J @A6C2E:@?D] k^Am
kAmp C646?E 7:?2?4:2= 5@H?EFC? DAFCC65 3J E96 4:EJ’D F?7F?565 D6H6C 2DD6DD>6?E H@C< =65 E@ 2 a]d A6C46?E D=2D9 :? 2== 4:EJ 56A2CE>6?ED’ 3F586ED :? y2?F2CJ] k^Am
kAm(:E9 =:>:E65 7F?5:?8[ E96 4:EJ[ 2?5 2== E9@D6 :?G@=G65 :? E96 D6H6C AC@;64E[ 92G6 28C665 E@ 56=2J D@>6 AC@;64ED[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 $$t$ e 2?5 vC@FA a >:?:\DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 8@:?8 E@ ECJ 2?5 D=@H 5@H? D@>6 @7 E96 H@C< E@ ECJ 2?5 :>AC@G6 E96 42D9 7=@H 7@C E96 4:EJ[” qFC=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$@>6 AC@;64ED 4@F=5 A:4< 324< FA D@@?6C E92? 6IA64E65 D9@F=5 E96 4:EJ C646:G6 Sa >:==:@? 7C@> E96 &]$] pC>J r@CAD @7 t?8:?66C’D dha 8C2?ED @C 2 D64@?5 $6H6C #6G@=G:?8 uF?5 =@2?[ H9:49 H@F=5 2==@H E96 4:EJ E@ C6:>3FCD6 2DD6DD>6?E H@C< 4@DED 7@C D6H6C DEF5:6D 2?5 8:G6 >F49 ?66565 7F?5D E@ 4@>A=6E6 D>2== 2?5 >@C6 4@DE=J D6H6C AC@;64ED]k^Am
kAmx7 E96 4:EJ 5@6D C646:G6 2 D64@?5 $#u =@2?[ 7F?5D H@F=5 8@ E@ C6A2:C EH@ @7 E96 4:EJ’D EH@ 9:896DE AC:@C:EJ AC@;64EDi E96 Sc]h >:==:@? w2?4@4< u@C46 |2:? !F>A $E2E:@? 2?5 E96 Sd]a >:==:@? H2DE6 H2E6C EC62E>6?E A=2?E’D 8C:E 492>36C[ qFC=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|@DE=J H92E qFC=6 H:== 7@4FD @? :? a_`g[ E9@F89[ 2C6 E96 HC:EE6? 5@4F>6?ED E92E >FDE 36 D6?E E@ E96 t!p] %96 7:CDE @7 >2?J 2??F2= C6A@CED 7@C E96 D6H6C DJDE6> H2D DF3>:EE65 2E E96 6?5 @7 y2?F2CJ]k^Am
kAm%96 4@DE 2?2=JD:D AC@8C2> :D 5F6 2E E96 6?5 @7 |2C49 2?5 BF2CE6C=J 2?5 D6>:2??F2= C6A@CED 2C6 5F6 3J E96 6?5 @7 yF=J]k^Am