City of Sumter Invests $39.3 Million in Water and Sewer Infrastructure

SUMTER, S.C. (October 22, 2026) — The City of Sumter is making major investments in its water and sewer systems to improve reliability, replace aging infrastructure and prepare for future growth.

The City has $39.3 million invested in 13 major utility projects, including $26.4 million from three South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP) grants. Additional state and matching funds were obtained to support the remaining project costs. The SCIIP program uses federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to support improvements to clean drinking water, sanitary sewer systems and stormwater resilience.

Replacing Aging Infrastructure

The City maintains approximately 510 miles of underground water lines. As part of these investments, 2.53 miles of aging water lines have been replaced, including many pipes that were more than 100 years old.

One completed project replaced approximately 13,362 feet of water lines along portions of Church Street, W. Liberty Street, W. Oakland Avenue, Warren Street and N. Main Street. The City has also replaced altitude valves at six elevated water tanks and added generators at three wells to improve the water system's reliability during power outages.

Expanding Water Capacity

Several projects are focused on making sure Sumter has enough water storage and treatment capacity to serve residents and businesses today and as the community grows.

A new 1-million-gallon elevated water tank was completed at Water Plant 3, providing additional storage and greater flexibility for plant maintenance. Water Plant 5 is also being expanded from 4 million to 6 million gallons of treatment capacity per day, with two new filters and improvements to existing equipment. A new 500,000-gallon elevated tank is also being constructed near the plant.

At the Live Oak Industrial Park, a new 850-foot groundwater well and nearly 9,538 feet of raw water lines will increase the amount of water available to Water Plant 3 for treatment.

Strengthening Wastewater and Sewer Systems

The City's investment also includes improvements to wastewater treatment and sewer infrastructure.

At the Wastewater Treatment Plant, completed projects include upgrades to the dryer building and three secondary aeration basins. The City also completed a master plan that identifies future improvements and provides a phased investment plan through 2050.

Construction is underway on the Sibley Village Lift Station and Force Main, which includes a new sewer pump station and approximately 14,160 feet of new sewer force main to support residential and commercial development in northern Sumter. The U.S. 15 South Lift Station is also in design to provide additional capacity, improve employee safety and replace aging infrastructure.

In addition to these major projects, City staff and contractors continue to complete smaller water, sewer, wastewater and lift station improvements throughout the utility system.

Investing in Sumter's Future

“We appreciate the support of Mayor Merchant, City Council, and our legislative delegation in making these investments possible. Strong water and sewer infrastructure is a strength for Sumter, and these projects allow us to improve reliability, address aging infrastructure and make sure our utility system is prepared for the future,” said Michael Geddings, Director of Public Services.

Together, these projects represent a long-term investment in the infrastructure that supports Sumter's residents, businesses and continued growth.