BRANCHVILLE, S.C. — The town of Branchville is seeking $500,000 for power generators.
The generators would be used to power its pump stations during storm-related outages.
In the past, Mayor Frank Dickson says the town relied on a mobile generator to keep its pump stations operating during a storm and allow sewage to flow.
“This well help us from having to use the mobile generator. We’ll have one at each station now when the power surge, those generators will come on and everything," said Dickson.
That means this essential city service would keep running, even if there's a major power outage.
The plan is to install six generators to support six pump stations located around the perimeter of Branchville.
Dickson says in the past, the generator had been shared with the neighboring town of Bowman and that has created delays for customers. It also led to staff having to rotate the generators out at different locations to keep things going.
“It’s a rotation, I mean you got six times. Maybe this pump station takes two hours, maybe the next one takes four hours," said Dickson.
He says the generators will allow for more efficient man power with town only having two electricians on staff to operate the pumps.
The town applied for the grant through the State Revolving Fund through its principal forgiveness program.
According to DHEC, the town is eligible for this loan and would not be required to pay it back.
The goal is to start installing the generators ahead of hurricane season within the next six to three months.