Regional Water Systems
Santee Cooper operates two wholesale water systems, one on Lake Moultrie and one on Lake Marion. Both water systems have been honored with the “Best Tasting Water” award from the South Carolina Rural Water Association.
Lake Moultrie
Launched in October 1994, the Santee Cooper Regional Water System was the first regional approach to water distribution in the Lowcountry.
The system uses a conventional treatment process and has the capacity to treat and sell 40 million gallons of water per day (mgd) from Lake Moultrie. The Santee Cooper Regional Water System utilizes 20 miles of transmission pipeline to deliver drinking water to the Lake Moultrie Water Agency, which is comprised of the Berkeley County, the City of Goose Creek, the Moncks Corner Public Works Commission and the Summerville Commissioners of Public Works. Santee Cooper owns the system's treatment plant, transmission lines, pump stations and facilities.
The Santee Cooper Regional Water System is a member of the South Carolina Environmental Excellence Program (SCEEP), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the South Carolina Rural Water Association (SCRWA), South Carolina Water Quality Association (SCWQA) and actively participates in the AWWA Partnership for Safe Drinking Water Program and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control Area Wide Optimization Program (AWOP).
Lake Marion
The Lake Marion Regional Water System, located on Lake Marion near Santee, has a system capacity to treat and sell 8 mgd from Lake Marion and began commercial operation in 2008. The Lake Marion Water System utilizes a Membrane Ultrafiltration treatment process and has more than 46 miles of transmission pipeline and a total of 120 miles planned to serve the surrounding towns and communities. At present, it serves five wholesale customers that also make up its governing body, the Lake Marion Regional Water Agency which is comprised of Berkeley, Calhoun, Dorchester and Orangeburg counties as well as the Town of Santee. The treatment plant and much of the transmission lines are owned and operated by Santee Cooper.
The Lake Marion Water System is a member of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the South Carolina Rural Water Association (SCRWA) and also participates in the AWWA Partnership for Safe Drinking Water Program and S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control Area Wide Optimization Program (AWOP).