FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

To: News Media, Community Leaders, and Bamberg County Citizens

From: Bamberg County Administration

Date: September 20, 2023

Re: Bamberg-county-to-receive-federal-funding-for-airport-water-tank.

Bamberg, South Carolina (September 2023)–Bamberg County has been approved to receive nearly $600,000 from the federal government to make improvements to the Bamberg County Airport Water Tank, which is located at the end of Industrial Road adjacent to an industrial building and a short distance from the Bamberg County Airport and Heritage Highway (U.S. Hwy 78) between the towns of Bamberg and Denmark. The elevated water tank rehabilitation project could positively impact an estimated 3,500 City of Denmark residents.

According to the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Bureau of Water, “The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) was created by the 1996 amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to assist public water systems with financing the cost of infrastructure needed to achieve or maintain compliance with the SDWA. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 includes three new appropriations for the DWSRF, one of which is the General Supplemental appropriations…and South Carolina was allotted $26,316,000 from this appropriation.” SC DHEC is the primary liaison between local governments and the federal government and is responsible for determining which counties and/or municipalities are eligible for this funding. In fact, Bamberg County and Georgetown Counties are the only South Carolina counties receiving this funding; the other 13 recipients are municipalities.

Bamberg County Council Chairman Dr. Jonathan Goodman said, “This funding and the water tank improvements will ensure Denmark residents have better access to clean and safe drinking water. We are grateful to SC DHEC for choosing Bamberg County as one of the 15 recipients of this grant.”

“We are thrilled to receive this grant and look forward to an improved and repaired water tank and bringing clean water to the city of Denmark,” said Vice Chairman Evert Comer.

Councilman Spencer Donaldson said, “This is great news for Bamberg County Airport infrastructure and the future development between the cities of Bamberg and Denmark and will significantly improve the quality of life for Denmark citizens.”

Likewise, County Administrator Joey Preston expressed his pride in securing the water tank funding, “This grant, like most grants, involves a meticulous process and is highly competitive. Bamberg County is fortunate to have been chosen as a recipient and will use the funds to rehabilitate the water tower, thereby directly benefiting about 3,500 Denmark residents. Bamberg County intends to construct more airport hangar space, and the improved water tank will provide additional pressure for fire suppression.”

#### For more information on this press release, email info@bambergcounty.sc.gov.