Important News
National Safe Digging Month
#FlashbackFriday Remember the long, cold winter? We’re trying to forget it! Warmer weather is here to stay, and as you start your digging projects small and large, know that you must #call811 at least a few days in advance of breaking ground. Tag a friend who needs to hear this message!
National Safe Digging Month
#EarthDay is only a week away. Grab #MotivationMonday by the horns and #call811 today if your celebrations involve planting trees or other greenery. Always know what’s below by taking advantage of the free 811 service before disturbing the ground in any way.
March 22 is World Water Day bringing awareness to the United Nations’ goal for safe access to water for all by 2030. This year, the theme is “leaving no one behind.” BJWSA is honored to protect the planet’s most precious resource.For more information on this campaign, visit https://www.worldwaterday.org/.
NACWA Magazine tells story of bridge waterline
Clean Water Advocate, a quarterly publication of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA,) features the story of Winter Storm Grayson’s part in revealing the need for the waterline repair under the McTeer Bridge. Through interviews with Ed Saxon, Justin Thomas, Brian Chemsak and Andy Mattie, we were able to relate this incident to a national audience. Public Affairs Manager, Pam Flasch, was the author of the article. See the complete magazine here.
BOIL WATER ADVISORY LIFTED FOR LEVY AREA
Okatie, SC [February 20, 2019] – Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA) and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC)
announced today that the latest water sample analyses indicate the water in the Levy area is free from bacteria and is safe for human consumption.
The boil advisory for Levy is now lifted.
The precautionary advisory to boil water used for drinking or cooking was issued February 18 due to a failure on our 12” water main that parallels South Okatie Hwy and ends in the residential neighborhood of Telfair plantation.
Additionally, BJWSA suggests that you flush your system, running bathtub and sink faucets for 10 minutes or until the water is clear.
BJWSA apologizes for any inconvenience this incident may have caused.
PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER ADVISORY ISSUED FOR LEVY COMMUNITY
Okatie, SC (February 18, 2019)– BJWSA and SC DHEC advise some residents in Levy Community to boil water before using for drinking, cooking or dishwashing. The area includes S. Okatie Hwy, starting at Delta Estates Road and ending at Telfair Plantation. Please follow this link to learn how to boil water in an emergency: https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CDC-What-to-Do-During-a-Boil-Water-Advisory-3.pdf?fwd=no
Discolored Water? Run COLD TAP for FIVE minutes!
December 7, 2018: We’ve recently received customer complaints about discolored water. Please check out this fact sheet, and if the issue persists at your home or business, please call us at 843-987-9200.
BJWSA’s Saxon to retire; Joe Mantua selected as new General Manager
OKATIE, SC (November 15, 2018)—Beaufort–Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA) announces that long-time General Manager Ed Saxon will retire in February 2019. Saxon, who has served at the authority since February of 1989, leaves a legacy of environmental and fiscal responsibility, as well as extensive community voluntarism.
Joe Mantua, currently the Deputy General Manager for Operations at Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) in Laurel, Maryland, begins working alongside Saxon November 26. A utility management professional with more than three decades of experience in both the public and private sector, Mantua previously served as a regional manager at Black & Veatch Corporation, and as past president of the American Water Works Association (AWWA.)
The extensive search for a new general manager was conducted nationwide by Cabot Associates and vetted by the BJWSA Board of Directors. Board chair Donna Altman offered, “After a thorough and thoughtful search process, the board is excited to have Joe join and lead BJWSA. Joe brings a stellar leadership reputation, a wealth of water and wastewater industry experience and an impressive work history – which makes him well positioned to lead us going forward.”
Saxon added, “It has been a distinct pleasure to live in the Lowcountry and an honor to serve the citizens of Beaufort and Jasper Counties for 30 years. I’m confident that Joe will be a great leader for our wonderful group of BJWSA employees.”
Reached at his current office, Mantua expressed his eagerness to continue the work that BJWSA has done to earn its place in local prominence, “I look forward to leading this great organization and carrying on the tradition of providing excellent service to our customers and community.”
In his role as General Manager, Mantua will oversee 190 employees at two water treatment plants and eight wastewater plants. For more information about BJWSA, go to www.bjwsa.org.
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National Safety Council awards Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority with the 2018 Industry Leader Award
The National Safety Council (NSC) has honored Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) with a 2018 Industry Leader Award. The award is a component of the NSC’s member-exclusive Safety Awards Program. The Industry Leader Award benchmarks outstanding safety achievements among member companies based on self-reported data.
Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority is one of 65 companies chosen nationwide for the award, which recognizes the top five percent of member companies, units and facilities meeting the criteria and qualifications for the 2018 Occupational Excellence Achievement Award (based on 2017 calendar year data) from NSC. Winners are selected based on NAICS code, lowest total incidence rate and employee work hours. As of the end of FY18, BJWSA had sustained a record 1,163 days to accumulate 1,047,540 hours without an injury resulting in a lost workday.
BJWSA General Manager Ed Saxon credits Safety Specialist Steve Lee, along with management staff, for ensuring that employees identify all hazards and the appropriate personal protection equipment is provided and implemented before any work begins.
“This remarkable record,” says Saxon, “is the result of every employee’s commitment to safety and compliance with our robust safety program. We are further committing ourselves to the two million hour goal with a renewed vigilance for recognizing and avoiding safety risks.”
BJWSA tests hydrants daily
Throughout our service area, BJWSA tests hydrants daily. Customers in a particular area may experience water discoloration, which should clear up if they allow the water to run for 15 minutes. If the water does not clear up with in this time, please call for consultation.
We also conduct water quality flushing procedures. Customers may experience water discoloration and or elevated chlorine tastes and odors in their area due to this procedure as well. The water will clear up if customers allow their water to run for 15 minutes. If the water does not clear up with in this time, please call for consultation. The chlorine odor will dissipate over time.
In both cases, the discoloration is not harmful to humans or pets, and is a result of rapid velocity variations in the water mains from the testing procedures. The discoloration is most likely phosphate which is added to the water as a corrosion inhibitor.
