Anderson Regional Joint Water System (ARJWS) recently marked the completion of a major infrastructure upgrade at Lake Hartwell Water Treatment Plant (WTP) with a plaque dedication ceremony, recognizing the successful teamwork that helped revolutionize the plant’s disinfection process.

Serving approximately 212,000 people across 14 water utilities, the 48 million gallons per day (MGD) facility is transitioning from costly bulk bleach deliveries to an On-Site Sodium Hypochlorite Generation (OSHG) System.

The new system features a high-capacity 60-ton brine storage tank, automated water softening to protect equipment longevity and dual 24,000-gallon storage tanks equipped with specialized venting and heat tracing to ensure year-round stability.

By producing a 0.8% disinfectant solution on-site using only salt, water and electricity, the plant eliminates the hazards associated with transporting high-concentration chemicals, while reducing long-term operational costs.

Engineered to meet an ultimate demand of nearly 1,500 pounds of chlorine per day, the system layout is specifically tailored to fit within the plant’s original footprint while allowing for future expansion as regional water needs grow.

The CleanWater1 (Microclor) OSHG system was selected as the basis of design for its superior redundancy and its space-efficient vertical configuration, featuring independent electrolytic cells that allow the system to remain operational even during maintenance.

Delivered through the partnership of Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) and State Utility Contractors, Inc., the project optimizes the plant’s existing infrastructure while ensuring 100% redundancy and reliability.

Construction was completed in November 2025, ensuring that Lake Hartwell WTP remains a model of efficiency and safety, while providing a consistent, cost-effective and high-quality water supply to the Upstate South Carolina community for decades to come.