WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, today said he was pleased the city of Rock Hill is set to receive $8 million in funding to assist the Rock Hill Water Treatment Plant (WTP).  When completed, the project will free up to 295,000 gallons of capacity at the WTP.  The city already has match funds available for the cost of the project.

Under the terms of the proposal, filter backwash water and discharge from the sedimentation basins at the Rock Hill WTP are directed to an existing settled solids (sludge) clarifier.  They are then pumped to the City’s Manchester Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant for dewatering and disposal.  To eliminate the discharge of sludge, the city is planning to construct alum sludge dewatering facilities at WTP to be used in conjunction with the new thickener and sludge pump station current under construction.

“Rock Hill is a vibrant, growing community,” said Graham.  “We must ensure the local water system is ready to meet both the current and future needs.  I believe this project had merit and will pay dividends for Rock Hill in the years to come.” 

“I believe it is important that elected officials have a say in how taxpayer money is spent and not rely on bureaucrats in Washington to protect South Carolina’s interests,” said Graham.  “The funding requests for member-directed spending items, like this project, are public record.  Every person can judge for themselves if it was a worthwhile request.”

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