Economic Development

The City of Denmark provides wastewater service to approximately 1,465 customers within the City of Denmark or within close proximity to the city limits including nearby Voorhees College and Denmark Technical College. The wastewater collection system, associated wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and effluent land application fields are owned, operated, and maintained by the City of Denmark and its Department of Waterworks. According to the Census completed in 2000, the population of the City of Denmark was 3,328 persons. Slightly less than ninety-eight percent (98%) of the customers served are residential customers according to records obtained from the City of Denmark.

The City of Denmark Department of Waterworks operates and maintains approximately twenty-four (24) miles of gravity wastewater collection lines ranging in size from four (4) inches to twenty-one (21) inches. The wastewater collection system also consists of three (3) pumping stations and approximately one (1) mile of associated force main. The City provides wastewater service to most of the in-town residents and some areas within close proximity to the city limits. This service area is depicted in Exhibit S.

The City of Denmark owns and operates a WWTP on approximately twenty-one (21) acres located approximately one (1) mile east of the Crestwood Country Club along the eastern side of U.S. Highway 321 and south of the City Limits. The City owns and operates two (2) effluent storage basins. One (1) basin is located two (2) miles southwest of Denmark, and the other basin is located on the site of the WWTP. The City of Denmark Department of Waterworks also owns and operates approximately 138 acres of effluent land application fields. The locations of the existing wastewater treatment facilities are depicted in Exhibit T.

The WWTP’s treatment process begins with the screening of the wastewater to remove large debris prior to entering the influent pumping station at the head of the WWTP. The WWTP also includes a dual power level, multi-cellular aerated lagoon. The effluent from the aerated lagoon is then disinfected in the chlorine contact chambers. After disinfection, the effluent undergoes dechlorination before entering the first effluent storage basin located on the site. The effluent from the first storage basin is pumped through an effluent pumping station and approximately three (3) miles of force main to the second effluent storage basin located southwest of Denmark. During the months of March to October, the effluent is land applied through effluent irrigation pumps to the 138 acres of land application fields with capacity to receive 1.0 MGD. During the months of November to February, a maximum of 0.388 MGD of the treated effluent can be discharged to the nearby Little Salkehatchie River and a maximum of 0.612 MGD can be applied to the effluent land application fields adjacent to the second effluent storage basin. A wastewater treatment flow schematic and aerial photograph of the WWTP are depicted in Exhibits U and V, respectively.

Information about the five (5) largest wastewater customers was obtained from the City of Denmark based on the average monthly wastewater generation rate during the period of August 2007 to October 2007. The five (5) largest customers and their average wastewater generation rate are tabulated in Table 3.2.3-1.

Table 3.2.3-1 City of Denmark-Five Largest Wastewater Customers

General information to characterize the WWTP’s performance was obtained from the SCDHEC through Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs). General characteristics of the influent wastestream, including flow, five (5) day Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), are tabulated in Table 3.2.3-2.

Table 3.2.3-2
City of Denmark’s WWTP - Influent Wastewater Characteristics

The average of the monthly average wastewater flows to the Denmark WWTP over the fifty-one (51) months (or about four (4) years) tracked was approximately 0.648 MGD and the average of the monthly peak flows was approximately 0.807 MGD. With a current capacity of 1.0 MGD, the City of Denmark’s WWTP would have an average surplus capacity of approximately 0.193 MGD at average flow conditions.

Additionally, according to the SCDHEC’s DMR’s, the effluent wastewater characteristics from the WWTP operated by the City of Denmark Department of Waterworks include BOD, pH, TSS, and Fecal Coliform, and that data is tabulated in Table 3.2.3-3.

Table 3.2.3-3
Town of Denmark’s WWTP - Effluent Wastewater Characteristics

The City of Denmark has surplus capacity for treatment of wastewater that would enable it to support the extension of service into surrounding areas. The current ND and NPDES Permit No. SC0040215 can be found in Appendix J, and the limitations associated with discharges and/or land application are summarized in Table 3.2.3-4.

Table 3.2.3-4
City of Denmark’s WWTP-Permitted Effluent Wastewater Characteristics

Both winter and summer season must meet the same effluent limits, regardless of effluent disposal method, to comply with SCDHEC requirements.

At present, the City of Denmark does not have any known current plans, planning studies, or PER’s for future wastewater improvements that have been submitted to SCDHEC for approval.

The City of Denmark has developed a rate and fee schedule based on the wastewater flow volumes and the location of a customer either inside or outside city limits. As can be seen in Table 3.2.5-1, customers are charged a base monthly fee for the first 2,000 gallons of wastewater generated.

Table 3.2.5-1 City of Denmark - Wastewater Rate and Fee Schedule

Customers that reside within the city limits are charged a base monthly fee of $12.50, and customers outside the city limits are charged a base monthly fee of $13.13. After the initial 2,000 gallons and if they reside within city limits, a customer is charged a rate of $3.13 per 1,000 gallons, up to 10,000 gallons. After 10,000 gallons of wastewater usage, customers residing within city limits are charged $3.75 per 1,000 gallons. After the initial 2,000 gallons and if they reside outside city limits, a customer is charged a rate of $3.75 per 1,000 gallons up to 10,000 gallons. After 10,000 gallons of wastewater usage, customers residing outside the city limits are charged $4.69 per 1,000 gallons. It should be noted that there is no distinction between rates for residential customers versus commercial customers. Under the assumption that an average residential customer generates 5,500 gallons per month, the average monthly wastewater bill would be $23.46 and $26.26 for in-town and out-of-town customers, respectively.

The annual financial audit for the City of Denmark Department of Waterworks was not disaggregated between the water and wastewater revenues and expenses. For additional information, refer to Section 2.2.6.