SC trails much of nation in federal money for water needs

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina trails much of the nation in money received from the federal government to help utilities provide clean drinking water and sewage systems.

Still, the state has received $176 million over five years from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program that it loans in turn to local water systems for projects.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control says the 94 loans approved have ranged from $2 million to allow Abbeville to upgrade its water system, to $5.5 million for Darlington County to install water meters that can be read by satellites.

The Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority has received 10 loans worth nearly $41 million to upgrade its systems, while the town of Pamplico in Florence County borrowed $860,000 for a 200,000-gallon water tank.