There Are More Than 300 Homes, Primarily on the North End of Hilton Head Island, That

PROJECT SAFE

Did you know…

…there are more than 300 homes, primarily on the north end of Hilton Head Island, that are still not connected to public sewer? They rely, instead, on septic systems. When it rains, these families can face sewage-sodden backyards, the inability to bathe or wash clothes and the possibility of raw sewage bubbling up through their drains.

Septic systems frequently fail in the Lowcountry, due to our high water table, poor soil quality and dense tree root system. These failures impact not only individual families, but also every one of us, because septic overflow runs into our yards and waterways, sullying our ecosystem.

In 2004 Hilton Head Public Service District(PSD) embarked upon a long-range program to lay lines in unserved areas. The result is that 95 percent of the PSD’s service area now has sewer access. However, hundreds of homes still remain unconnected due to the cost of the hook up, which averages about $6,700 per household.

Recently the Town of Hilton Head Island agreed to prioritize to the project, which for the Town, may mean as much as $10 million for sewer mains. In addition to laying sewer lines, PSD has expanded a sewer treatment plant that will accommodate the volume needed when all septic systems are eliminated. Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has launched a multi-year campaign to raise the $3 million needed to provide grants for qualifying families to connect.

Our local families, most commonly from our Native Island community, have been promised a solution to this issue for years. This project obviously has an environmental component, a public health component, an economic development component, and a social justice component. The community now needs to put its shoulder to the wheel and make good on our promise. This will be the topic of an upcoming meeting of the Liberal Men of the Lowcountry; watch for the schedule to participate in what promises to be an engaging conversation!

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There’s a problem,and we can fix it.

Hundreds of households on Hilton Head Island are not yet connected to the public sewer system, relying instead on septic systems. Compromised by the high water table and dense underground root systems, some of these septic systems are producing an overflow of contaminated waste water that threatens the safety and beauty of our island home.

Water contamination caused by septic systems affects every single one of us.

It affects our health.

When the water table rises, so does the level of unsafe, untreated waste water. Backyards get filled with bacteria, which can lead to a variety of illnesses.

It affects our environment.

Contaminated waste water from septic systems – carrying detergents, soaps, bleach and other unsafe chemicals – runs off into Port Royal Sound, the May River, Jarvis Creek, Broad Creek, the Colleton River and the Atlantic Ocean, threatening the ecological health of our waterways, shellfish beds and marine life.

It affects our economy.

The effects of waste water contamination endanger our world class Hilton Head Island resort brand, our beautiful natural environment and the livelihoods of the people who make their living serving the 2.1 million annual visitors.

You can help.

Public sewer connection can be cost prohibitive for households struggling to make ends meet. So Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, Hilton Head Public Service District and the Town of Hilton Head Island have come together to address the issue of septic systems.

The Town of Hilton Head Island has allocated over $10 million to bring sewer mains to areas of the Island still unserved. Hilton Head PSD is building the pump stations and is project manager to assure the work is accomplished. But that doesn’t finish the job – and the Town and PSD can’t do it alone. That’s where Project SAFE (Sewer Access for Everyone) comes in.

Through Project SAFE, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry will raise the remaining $3 million in funds needed to connect 1,000 low-income homes to the public sewer system, eliminating the septic systems that are failing us all.

It’s time for those whocanto come together to raise the money for those who cannot afford to make the connection.

Help us connect for good.Donate now.