The Pipeline Newsletter Vol. 5, No. 3

The Pipeline

Marion Street Project Adds Greenspace

We are proud to congratulate Tiffany Latimer on her recent promotion to Director of Customer Services which includes the Customer Care Call Center, Field Services, Columbia Water Communications, and the Meter Reading Division. She earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina and has continued her education by earning a Master of Public Administration.

“I knew at an early age that I had a passion for serving others. There is nothing more self-fulfilling than being committed to providing great service to our customers while being responsive, caring and compassionate. I absolutely love what I do.”

Latimer, originally from Beech Island, SC, is the mother of two “awesome kids,” Aniyah and Caleb, and in her downtime, she loves to travel.

The Marion Street Bioretention project will add greenspace, provide safety improvements and a beautification enhancement in addition to the stormwater quality benefit. The City of Columbia and its contractor are in the process of designing bioretention cells to improve the stormwater quality in the Smith Branch Watershed and to remove impervious area from this highly urban watershed. Project improvements will occur along Marion Street from Elmwood Street to Laurel Street and are anticipated to begin in mid-2024 and end in late 2025. The purpose of this project is to improve the existing stormwater quality that drains into Smith Branch and upgrade the drainage infrastructure along Marion Street.

Columbia Water is especially excited to share a recent grant award from the SC Office of Resiliency (SCOR) to fund the construction of this project. This grant program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will provide almost $1.3 Million towards the construction of this project. The City will fund the design and permitting through its stormwater CIP fund.

A similar bioretention cell technique is nearing construction completion in the Benedict/Edgewood neighborhood and is pictured above. Columbia Water is pleased to bring these stormwater features to our City streets.

You can also watch a video about the Benedict/Edgewood neighborhood bio-rentention project here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDlhiSCTEuM

Tiffany Latimer

Promoted to Director of Customer Services

Director of Customer Services, Tiffany Latimer

Understanding PFAS

Per- and polyfluoralkyl substances, man-made chemicals more commonly known as PFAS, have been used globally since the 1940s in a variety of industrial and commercial products. PFAS resist heat and repel oil and water, so they are found in such products as firefighting foams, stain- and waterresistant coatings, and non-stick coatings.

The same properties that make PFAS useful for industrial and consumer products make them difficult to degrade and very persistent in the environment, leading to PFAS being found literally everywhere on earth. Because of this persistence, it is not unusual for some PFAS to be found anywhere, including our drinking water.

High exposures to two of the most common and moststudied PFAS compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) have been associated with several health conditions in laboratory tests. Out of an abundance of caution, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established a health advisory for PFOA and PFOS and have now proposed enforceable Maximum Contaminant levels (MCLs) in drinking water even though additional

ROTC Cadets Tour Lake Murray Water Treatment Plant

research is needed in order to determine if definitive epidemiological effects exist and how they are related to exposure to PFOA and PFOS (as well as the over 4,000 other PFAS compounds known to exist).

Since an initial testing in 2020 by SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia Water continues to proactively sample for per- and polyfluoralkyl substances in our drinking water every six months and you can view those results here: https://columbiascwater.net/pfas/.

EPA estimates that 80% of exposure to PFAS comes from consumer products and assumes that 20% comes from drinking water and their health-effect estimates are based on the idea that individuals drink 2.5 liters of impacted water per day, 365 days/year for 70 years (lifetime exposure).

Pretreatment Industrial Inspection Training

During the week of June 12, staff at our Lake Murray Treatment Plant provided multiple tours for approximately 300 Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students. ROTC cadets learned about our treatment processes from raw water intake to drinking water leaving the plant. Cadets were engaged and inquisitive, with many asking about opportunities in the water industry.

and Pretreatment

Matt

conducted Pretreatment Industrial Inspection Training in June. Staff from SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) as well as local industry representatives reviewed proper sampling and documentation processes. Attendees also learned about upcoming US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory guidance. The purpose of the training was to assist local stakeholders with compliance to EPA and DHEC requirements.

Wastewater Compliance Manager Stephen Sealey

Coordinator

Miller

Matt Miller (right) leading the training

ROTC cadets at the Lake Murray Water Treatment Plant

Cadets were engaged and inquisitive, with many asking about opportunities in the water industry.

billy Elswick

MEET COLUMBIA WATER

How long have you been with the City of Columbia and what do you do?

I have been with the City of Columbia for a little under a month now. I mainly map impervious areas on GIS as well as going into the field to look at jobs when I get a chance.

What is the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your work bio?

One interesting thing about me is that I am an avid hunter and fisher and even have a YouTube channel with my dad to document all of our outdoor activities.

What’s the best experience you’ve had working for the City of Columbia?

I really enjoy the social aspect of the City and how everyone is always so nice and willing to help you or even just have a conversation.

Pizza or Tacos, and why?

Pizza, because of all the different toppings that you can choose from. There are also many different types of pizza. Way more than tacos.

MEET COLUMBIA WATER

Herschel Taylor

How long have you been with the City of Columbia and what do you do?

I have been with [Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant] for 1 year and 6 months. I help maintain and coordinate the North Columbia route’s lift and pump stations, while also giving my great co-workers a hand with any issues they might have on the Columbia and Irmo route. I keep the lift stations as clean as possible and check to make sure that all alarms and pumps are working to the best of their abilities.

What is the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your work bio? Something you don’t know about me is that on my days off I like to go bowling, fishing, and I love to play golf.

What’s the best experience you’ve had working for the City of Columbia?

The best experience I’ve had while working here is meeting the great people here at the city of Columbia.

Winter or Summer, and why?

I enjoy working in the summer, even though I work outside for most of the day it beats working in 35-degree weather while the rain is coming down, and plus things are less likely to freeze up which can be a big problem during those winter days. For me, I think it’s a little easier to stay cool than to keep warm when you are working outside.

AWARDS

Columbia Water has so many dedicated, hard-working employees and we are extremely proud to announce the following award winners:

Customer Care

Customer Care Call Center Employee of the Month (May 2023)

Shiquana Brown

Water Distribution and Maintenance

Employee of the Year (December 2022)

Ebouni Moultrie

Supervisor of the Year (December 2022)

Jason Richardson (not pictured)

Forman of the Year (December 2022)

DeJuan Williams

Water Distribution Employee of the Quarter (Q1/Apr 2023)

Virginia Suber

Water Meter Reading Compliance

15 Years of Service – Water Meter (December 2022)

Richard Allison

15 Years of Service – Water Meter (December 2022)

Bruce Livingston

Employee of the Quarter (Q1/Apr 2023)

Elke Robinson

Water Distribution and Maintenance

* LLR SC Environmental Certification

KUDOS

Mr. Johnson sends kudos to Customer Care Representative Raigan Muldrow. He stated that her customer service was outstanding. He said, as a Disabled Veteran he really appreciates the time she took to assist him and not treating him less than equal. He also wanted to praise Raigan’s calm tone and that she was not in a rush to assist him.

Ms. Howell wanted to leave some remarks for Customer Care Representative Natalie Graham. She stated that Natalie provided excellent customer service and was very professional throughout her call. Natalie was able to provide the information needed and Ms. Howell was very appreciative.

Storytellers & Shutterbugs

Share photos and worksite tales with our community through The Pipeline! We’re always looking for original ideas, timely topics, and project pics. To submit your articles or ideas, please contact us at ColumbiaWater@columbiasc.gov.

STORYTELLERS & SHUTTERBUGS

Elke Robinson

Bruce Livingston

Richard Allison

Virginia Suber

Shiquana Brown Ebouni Moultrie DeJuan Williams