2030 Plan - Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority

I. Mergers and Acquisitions
The success of the Bull Creek Regional System brought changes to the working
relationships between GSWSA and the other water and wastewater utilities in Horry
County. Both the success of the initial project and the ongoing quality and cost of service
allowed for the formation of stronger relationships that could be built upon for future
cooperative arrangements.
Although Surfside Beach was a wholesale water and wastewater customer, it could not
obtain an efficient economy of scale in its retail operation. This resulted in a higher cost
of service for residents of Surfside. In 1995, the Town held a referendum to sell its water
and wastewater system to GSWSA. The referendum passed by an overwhelming
majority.
The Town of Aynor was also receiving wholesale water service but did not have a
wastewater system within the town. Many of the septic tanks in town were either failing
or operating unreliably. Because of the poor soils, DHEC was not issuing septic tank
permits in Aynor which was limiting growth in the town. In 1998, the town held a
referendum to sell its water system to GSWSA in exchange for the installation of a
wastewater system. This referendum also passed by an overwhelming majority.
GSWSA installed a wastewater system throughout Aynor, and the town has since
experienced unprecedented growth.
In 1994, as a result of its wastewater discharge permit violations, Conway was placed
under a wastewater moratorium by DHEC. GSWSA offered to acquire the plant and
upgrade the facility to meet the permit requirements. Conway agreed to the proposal, and
the plant has since been upgraded, rebuilt, and expanded from 2 to 4 MGD. The City of
Conway is now a wholesale customer for both water and wastewater services.
In 2001, the Town of Loris was violating its wastewater discharge permit. GSWSA
acquired the Loris plant and has upgraded the facility to meet the permit requirements.
The City of Loris is also now a wholesale customer for both water and wastewater
services.
In 2000, the Cities of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, acting jointly, purchased 4
MGD of water capacity. The water is delivered to North Myrtle Beach at the Barefoot
Landing Resort.
In 2000, North Myrtle Beach purchased 3 MGD of wastewater capacity to serve both the
area the city annexed west of the waterway and areas of the city east of the waterway.
This is about forty percent of the city’s wastewater capacity.
In 2006, GSWSA acquired the City of Myrtle Beach water and wastewater plants with
the city becoming a wholesale water and wastewater customer. This was a large
acquisition resulting in expansion of annual revenues of over thirty-five percent. Myrtle
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