Frequently Asked Questions

The Alljoy neighborhood is located in Bluffton, SC along the May River.

If you are a BJWSA customer and your property is in a teal shaded area of our project area map, great news! Your property is in the proposed Phase I project area.

You can also check to see if your parcel address is on this list of eligible properties by clicking here.

If your property is in the teal shaded project area (and on the list) and you are not a BJWSA water customer, please complete the Water & Sewer Availability Request Form found on the BJWSA website: https://bjwsa.org/173/Water-Sewer-Availability

Avoid Expensive and Surprise Septic System Repair Costs

Septic systems, especially older ones, are prone to failures and require expensive repairs or replacements. The cost of pumping, repairing, or replacing a septic tank, drain field, or other components can be substantial, easily reaching thousands of dollars. In some cases state regulations will prohibit replacing septic equipment. Once connected to centralized utilities, property owners no longer bear worry or financial burden of maintaining a septic system, which can lead to significant long-term savings. 

Predictable Monthly Costs

When you connect to BJWSA service, you will start receiving a monthly bill. While that sounds like an added cost, it is predictable. When your systems begin to fail, or need maintenance, it’s often a large and unexpected bill. They might break down without warning, and fixing or replacing them can really drain your wallet or be impossible under environmental regulations.

Here’s the good news: Switching to our services means you can stop worrying about big repair bills. Once you’re connected, all those system headaches and the costs that come with them are gone. This switch can save you some serious cash over time, making life a bit easier.

Environmental Compliance and Reduced Liability

BJWSA services comply with current environmental regulations, reducing the property owner’s liability for contamination that can occur with failing septic systems. Costs associated with legal fees, fines, and remediation of septic leaks or failures can be significant. By connecting through BJWSA’s Go2Sewer for a Cleaner Stoney Creek and our incentive program, property owners transfer the responsibility for wastewater treatment to us, along with the associated risks and liabilities.

Long-term Sustainability and Community Support

One of the goals of the Go2Sewer for a Cleaner May River initiative is to help protect our watershed, including Stoney Creek and the downstream May River. Currently, leaky septic tanks are leeching waste into the watershed, threatening our community’s health, safety, economy, and ecosystem.  By taking part in our incentive programs, you are not only getting the long-term support of the team at BJWSA and saving thousands of dollars, but you are also helping to keep our waterways clean for families, wildlife, and recreational pursuits like fishing and kayaking! 

Potential Insurance Savings Can Include:

Reduced Liability Risks

• Septic Failures: Septic systems can fail, leading to potential groundwater contamination or property damage. This risk can increase liability premiums. Connecting to a sewer system eliminates the risk of septic failure, potentially lowering liability insurance costs.
• Environmental Cleanup: If a septic system leaks or overflows, property owners may be liable for the cleanup of any environmental contamination. This risk can also affect insurance premiums. By eliminating the septic system, property owners reduce the risk of such events and associated liability.

Lower Risk of Water Damage

• Sewage Backups: Homes with septic systems can experience backups if the system is not maintained correctly or if it fails. These backups can cause significant water damage to the home, leading to higher claims and, thus higher insurance premiums. Municipal sewer systems generally have a lower risk of causing such backups in the home, potentially reducing insurance costs.
• Flood Damage: In areas prone to flooding, septic systems can fail during flood events, causing additional damage. Homes connected to municipal sewer systems might be considered at lower risk, potentially leading to reductions in flood insurance premiums.

Discounts for Improved Infrastructure

Some insurance companies offer discounts for homes that are considered lower risk due to improvements in infrastructure. Switching to a more reliable and efficient municipal sewer system could be viewed as such an improvement, making property owners eligible for these discounts.

Increased Property Value and Risk Assessment

Properties connected to municipal sewer systems may have higher values and might be assessed as lower risk, affecting insurance premiums. This is because sewer-connected properties are less likely to experience problems that lead to insurance claims, such as environmental cleanup costs or damages from sewage backups.

Property Owner Benefits

• Financial Savings: Avoiding the long-term costs associated with septic system maintenance and potential failure.
• Increased Property Value: Homes connected to sewer systems are often more appealing to buyers.
• Potential Reduced Insurance Rates: Some insurance companies offer discounts for homes that are considered lower risk due to improvements in infrastructure. Switching to a more reliable and efficient public utility could be viewed as such an improvement, making property owners eligible for these discounts.
• Peace of Mind: Eliminates the worry of septic system backup or failure.

Community and Environmental Benefits 

BJWSA complies with current environmental regulations, reducing the property owner’s liability for contamination that can occur with well/septic systems. Costs associated with legal fees, fines, and remediation of septic leaks or failures can be significant. By connecting through BJWSA’s “Go2Sewer for a Cleaner Stoney Creek” and our incentive programs, property owners transfer the responsibility to BJWSA, along with the associated risks and liabilities.

• Environmental Protection: Preserves local water quality and ecosystems.
• Public Health: Reduces the risk of waterborne diseases associated with septic system overflows. 

Health and Environmental Benefits

• Reduced Contamination: Sewer systems prevent contaminants found in wastewater from seeping into groundwater, rivers, and lakes, thereby reducing the risk of waterborne diseases and environmental pollution.
• Better Water Quality: By eliminating septic runoff, sewer systems contribute to cleaner and safer rivers, streams, and groundwater.
• Sustainability: Sewer systems are more sustainable in the long term, offering efficient wastewater treatment and reducing the likelihood of costly leaks and overflows that can occur with septic systems.

Economic and Practical Benefits

• Increased Property Values: Properties connected to a sewer system often have higher values because of the reduced risk of septic system failures.
• Lower Maintenance Costs: property owners save on the maintenance and potential replacement costs associated with septic systems, which can be substantial over time.
• Regulation & Compliance: Transitioning to sewer systems ensures compliance with current environmental regulations and community planning efforts, avoiding potential fines and legal issues.
• Potential Reduced Insurance Costs: Some insurance companies offer discounts for homes that are considered lower risk due to improvements in infrastructure. Switching to a more reliable and efficient municipal sewer system could be viewed as such an improvement, making property owners eligible for these discounts.
• Better Fire Emergency Response: Having sewer connections in your neighborhood provides closer access to fire hydrants, which will help fire departments in putting out potential fires faster. 

BJWSA’s contractor will work with you to make decisions about positioning the needed equipment. However, there are key considerations. The equipment will need be close to where wastewater currently leaves your home on its way to your septic tank. The grinder pump also requires electricity,  so the proximity to power is also a consideration. Ideally, the location grinder pump station would be located somewhere between your home’s wastewater outlet and power connection. BJWSA’s engineering consultant will prepare exhibits showing preliminary routing that will be used for bidding purposes and will consider other aspects such as tree mitigation, but will not necessarily indicate final pump and piping location. With that in mind, our contractor will work with you to explore options for locating the equipment.