Water Environment Association of South Carolina - WEASC

Water Environment Association of South Carolina - WEASC We are a community of water professionals in South Carolina who work to preserve and protect our state's most precious resource: water.

01/30/2026

Next week's Collections Short School is POSTPONED due to weather. Working on new dates. See our website for updates.

01/26/2026

❄️ QUICK TIPS FOR OPERATORS PREPARING FOR A WINTER STORM❄️

Water utility professionals work 24/7, even through harsh winter storms. Check out these storm preparation tips collected and assembled by operators and WEF volunteers:

◆ Make sure vehicle fuel tanks are full and windshield washer fluid is topped off. Outfit vehicles with cold weather supplies (food, water, windshield scraper, a shovel, hats, gloves, battery packs, etc). Vehicles might become warm-up shelters.

◆ Utilize and touch-base with resources in your region/community (plows, tractors, emergency response teams). It’s easier to get help if you have options lined up.

◆ Schedule your facility’s staffing with the expectation that travel will be difficult (people could get stuck out of or in the plant – have provisions available). Work in pairs… Mishaps are more likely in cold, icy, and snowy conditions.

◆ Confirm generators are fully operational and fueled.

◆ Check building heaters and heat trace (that might not usually be on). Supplement where needed.

◆ Walk through of all parts of the plant and buildings more frequently to keep eyes on equipment.

◆ Don’t ignore dry wells: they might need some temporary heat or consider turning down exhaust fans to reduce how much cold air is pulled in (take care to monitor air quality when opening).

◆ Cover outdoor SCADA/PLC cabinets with concrete insulation blankets if they don’t have adequate heaters.

◆ Drain small above ground pipes (i.e., sprayers on clarifiers) that you can temporarily operate without.

◆ Ensure chemical tanks are full.

◆ Bring equipment (trucks, cranes, pumps, forklifts, etc.) indoors or plug in if possible, especially anything with hydraulics.

◆ Have supplies ready and readily accessible (shovels, snow melt, insulated blankets, heaters).

◆ Verify alternate methods of communication (radios, phone numbers / email addresses).

◆ Keep water moving; leave small sample/sensing lines, hydrants, hose bibs running (pencil-width stream).

◆ If using hand warmers, keep a layer between skin and the warmer to prevent burns.

◆ Keep an eye on chambers that will have condensation issues that could interfere with instruments (i.e., level sensors controlling automatic pumps). Ventilate or insulate.

◆ Increase solids in aeration basins to prepare for the increase flow/dilution and help buffer the tougher conditions.

◆ If you have empty or spare tankage not in use, consider placing into service to prevent freezing.

◆ Prioritize operations and maintenance to necessary activities, no travel unless safe and necessary to keep personnel safe and available to respond to what is manageable.

Thank you to our fantastic for sharing your experience - and to all those working through stormy weather to protect our public health and environment!

💡 Based on YOUR experience, what would you add to support operators before a storm? Share in the comments!

The Winter Journal is here! 👉In this issue: Initial pass rates for new operator exams, an upstate utility implements AI ...
12/17/2025

The Winter Journal is here! 👉In this issue: Initial pass rates for new operator exams, an upstate utility implements AI agents, master planning essentials, highlights from the Operator Conference & WEFTEC, and storm oil...?🤔

Plus, tons of district and committee photos. Are YOU in one?! 👀
Read the digital issue here (hard copies arriving soon): https://www.kelmanonline.com/httpdocs/files/SC_Journal/scjournalwinter2025/index.html

Thank you to everyone who contributed photos, updates, and feature stories. The Spring 2026 Journal is up next. Content deadline is Jan 7th; publication in mid-February. Details at scwaters.org/journal.

📢SCEC registration is open! March 15–18, 2026, Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Register by Feb 28th to get earl...
12/15/2025

📢SCEC registration is open! March 15–18, 2026, Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Register by Feb 28th to get early-bird rates. 👉Visit https://www.scwaters.org/scec for the conference program and details.

Important info & dates:

HOTEL: The Sheraton room block is already sold out!😲Plan to book a nearby hotel or wait until closer to the conference to check the Sheraton (some rooms become available as people change reservations). See the conference website for more info and FAQs.

COMPETITIONS: Deadline to register as a competitor in Operations Challenge, Pipe Tapping, Hydrant Hysteria, and Meter Challenge is Feb 20th. Registration forms are on the conference website. (Along with information on sponsoring competitions!)

EXHIBITORS: The exhibit hall is almost full! Contact Tiffany Avant ASAP to claim one of the few remaining booths.

SPONSORS: Thank you to our sponsors, whose support makes SCEC possible. Sponsorship opportunities are available thru Jan 30th.

STUDENT POSTER SESSION: Submit an abstract by Jan 30th to participate. Open to undergrad and graduate students.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 South Carolina Environmental Conference!

12/11/2025

🚨Pro-Russia hacktivists are conducting opportunistic attacks against systems.

We recommend organizations to take these threats seriously and bolster operational technology asset security.

Learn how – more in the comments below.

Team registration is open for the 2026 Operations Challenge competition at SCEC, March 15-16, 2026, in Myrtle Beach!🪚🏖️ ...
11/20/2025

Team registration is open for the 2026 Operations Challenge competition at SCEC, March 15-16, 2026, in Myrtle Beach!🪚🏖️ Sign up by Feb 20, 2026.
ETA: Copy and paste the following link in a new browser tab to view the registration info: www.scwaters.org/mpage/scec_events. ⚠️If you click the link, it won't work bc of a technical issue between Facebook and our website - working on it!

11/12/2025

Last call for awards nominations - due THIS Saturday, Nov 15! Don't miss the opportunity to recognize fellow WEASC members for their excellence and dedication. The awards listed below are presented at the South Carolina Environmental Conference, March 15-18, 2026, in Myrtle Beach. For details and a link to the online nomination form, visit https://www.scwaters.org/page/AwardsWEASC.

🏆Golden Manhole Award
🏆Biosolids & Residuals Management Program Award
🏆Dennis Pittman Collection System Award
🏆Engineer of the Year
🏆Laboratory Analyst of the Year
🏆Maintenance Person of the Year
🏆Wastewater Operator of the Year
🏆Excellence in Collection System Operations
🏆WEASC Distribution Operator of the Year
🏆Safety Award
🏆Excellence in Asset Management
🏆Administrative Professional of the Year
🏆Young Professional of the Year
🏆Women in Water Life
🏆Rookie of the Year (Capital & Catawba Districts only)
🏆Customer Service Award (Capital & Catawba Districts only)

The 2025 Operator Conference is a wrap!
11/05/2025

The 2025 Operator Conference is a wrap!

Operator Conference Day 2!
11/04/2025

Operator Conference Day 2!

Day one of the Operator Conference is in the books! 😅👍💩
11/04/2025

Day one of the Operator Conference is in the books! 😅👍💩

Address

113 Business Park Drive
Lexington, SC
29072

Telephone

+18033580658

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