The Impact of Region 4 Collection Systems Rules and Regulations on a Mid-Size Utility

This is a recent history of Region 4's Rules and Regulations and how they have impacted the Greenwood Metropolitan Districts' direction and decisions. The most important document to date has been the proposed SSO Rules. Although GMD believed in proactive preventative maintenance and that the NPDES Permit and any Federal grants required effective maintenance of the entire sewer treatment system, getting the funds and personnel to operate in this manner was impossible. GMD management adopted the approach that any push from Region 4 or the state regulatory agency (SCDHEC) would be view as a way to reach our goal of operating a “Best of Class” system. In other words we embraced each priority established by Region 4 as a tool to meet our operating goals. All of the things did not go as smoothly as we would have hoped; this case study will share the success and shortcomings of GMD's approach. The state's 303D list of impaired waters was a tool used to help establish internal priorities. Overall the rules and policies were a great boost to accomplishing our goals.