Work begins on first phase of Alljoy sewer project

Work has begun on the first phase of sewer infrastructure construction in the Alljoy neighborhood in Beaufort County.

Malphrus Utilities has been contracted by the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority, or BJWSA, to complete the project as part of the Go2Sewer for a Cleaner May River Initiative, a collaborative effort involving BJWSA, the town of Bluffton and Beaufort County.

According to BJWSA, the goal is to transition properties from septic systems to a public sewer system to protect public health and the ecosystems of the Stoney Creek and May River watersheds. Supporters of the project also point to its importance to the local economy.

Funding includes a $1.5 million state rural infrastructure grant, $4.6 million from BJWSA and $1 million from Beaufort County.

A crew visited the site July 21, the day before the public groundbreaking ceremony, and construction began July 27. According to the latest information from BJWSA, Malphrus has been working with homeowners to mark grinder pump station locations. Grinder pump stations are wastewater collection and pumping units.

BJWSA has announced that property owners will either be contacted in person, if they are home, or receive a flyer asking them to contact Malphrus Superintendent Blake Doyle at 770-851-0151 or BJWSA Project Manager Rich Tetrick at 843-226-3564.

While the program involved the work of numerous officials, grassroots advocacy groups also pushed for the project. Many Alljoy residents have advocated for sewer service for years, some for decades.

Jim Lawton, whose family has founding roots in Alljoy, is among those who have worked toward the project for years.

“We are, on the whole, delighted with the prospect of moving Alljoy off septic, especially the low-lying properties along Boat House Creek, a substantial wetland basin flowing south into the May next to the boat landing,” Lawton said.

“With the project at Stoney Creek, we now have future protection at both ends of the May River estuary,” he added.

Lawton thanked fellow organizers Bob Williams, Laura Wilson, Kathie Coburn, and Lamar and Denise Hattaway for their work.

Several Alljoy advocates, including Lawton, have praised Charlie Stone, who they say has been one of their strongest and earliest supporters in the multiyear effort.

“The residents of Alljoy are very thankful especially to Charlie Stone and Beth Lowther of BJWSA for helping our community band together to get this thing done,” Lawton said.

Wilson also pointed to Stone’s support and a 2023 meeting at BJWSA. Wilson and six other advocates, who have been called “The Original Seven,” met with Stone and the BJWSA team that day. Wilson described it as a significant moment in the effort and recalled the reaction among fellow organizers on social media.

“I did a happy dance,” Wilson said.

Wilson said crew members from Malphrus Utilities have been good to people in the Alljoy neighborhood and described them as dedicated.

“They are such nice people,” she said. “They came out the day after the groundbreaking and talked to us.”

Substantial completion of the first phase is anticipated by mid-December, with full completion expected in mid-January.

Channing Heiss is a freelance writer and a member of the Beaufort County disAbilities Coalition.