Resolving sewer issues to satisfy health regulators

Walhalla’s utilities superintendent is optimistic the city can comply with a consent order to satisfy state regulators concerned about the city’s sewer problems.  The city council complied with Scott Parris’s request last night to commit up to $16 thousand dollars to pay for a consultant’s study of the problems and recommend how they are met.  Parris also announced that the city is pursuing grant opportunities to stop what environmentalist watchdogs have called excessive amounts of bacteria populations at Cane and Little Cane Creek locations monitored by South Carolina DHEC.  Friends of Lake Keowee last year listed the bacteria sources as failing septic systems, illicit wastewater discharges, wildlife, livestock, domestic pets, and what “FOLKS” called “the combined cocktail of storm water runoff.”