Final Notes from Site Visit at South Carolina Electric & Gas Company’s Wateree Station 

on January 24, 2013

EPA conducted a site visit at South Carolina Electric & Gas Company’s (SCE&G) Wateree 

Station (Wateree) located in Eastover, South Carolina on January 24, 2013, to learn about the 

operations at the plant, specifically the bottom ash handling retrofit from wet sluicing to using a

remote submerged flight conveyor (SFC). These notes describe the information collected during 

the site visit. Table 2, located at the end of these notes, identifies the site visit participants. The 

summary and block diagram of the remote SFC that the SCE&G personnel gave during the site 

visits are provided as Attachment 1 to these notes.

Plant Overview

• Wateree operates two identical coal-fired generating units, Units 1 and 2, which 

began operation in 1970 and 1971, respectively. Each unit has a gross generating 

capacity of 372 megawatts (MW). Both generating units are categorized as base 

load units. Table 1 below contains some general information for the two 

generating units.

Table 1. Plant Summary

SE Unit

Installation 

Date

Gross Capacity

(MW) Particulate Control NOx Control

1 1970 372 Reverse Gas Baghouse SCR, Low NOx burner

2 1971 372 Reverse Gas Baghouse SCR, Low NOx burner

• The Wateree plant is located on 1,300 acres of land adjacent to the Wateree River. 

Wateree employs approximately 99 employees on site. The plant draws raw 

intake water from the Wateree River.

• At full load, Wateree burns 6,000 tons of coal per day. The ash content of the coal 

is approximately 10 percent. The following is a non-comprehensive list of 

suppliers that provide bituminous coal to Wateree:

o Alpha Natural Resources;

o Arch Coal Sales Company Inc.;

o B&W Resources Inc.;

o Blackhawk Mining LLC.;

o Cargill Incorporated;

o Coalsales LLC.;

o Consol Energy Sales Company;

o Cumberland River Energies Inc.;

o Delta Coals LLC.;

o EDF Trading North America LLC.;

o ICG LLC.;

o J A D Coal Company Inc.;

o James River Coal Company;
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o JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation;

o Kopper GLO Fuel Inc.;

o Louis Dreyfus Energy Services LP;

o Massey Coal Sales Company Inc.;

o Patriot Coal Services LLC;

o Peabody Coaltrade International Limited;

o TECO Coal Corporation;

o Trinity Coal Marketing LLC;

o Virginia Power Energy Marketing Inc.;

o Vitol Inc.; and

o Xinergy Corp.

• Wateree stated that the fly ash/bottom ash split is approximately 90/10, which is 

roughly 22.5 tons per hour (tph) of fly ash and 2.5 tph of bottom ash. In total, 

Wateree generates 150,000 tons of ash per year.

• Wateree initiated the retrofit of the wet sluicing bottom ash handling system on 

both units in 2011. Wateree installed two remote SFCs that dewater the bottom 

ash sluice and recycle the overflow back to the boiler to be reused as quench 

water (in the bottom of the boiler) and sluice water. Wateree completed the 

retrofit on both units in October 2012.

• Wateree operates reverse gas baghouses to control fly ash and particulate 

emissions from the plant and pneumatically conveys the collected fly ash to two 

silos (one specific to each unit). Wateree has the capability to handle the collected

fly ash both wet and dry, but aims to transition to completely dry fly ash handling

by 2018 and close the primary ash settling pond (Ash Pond 1) by 2021.

• Currently, Wateree operates two ash ponds (Ash Pond 1 and Ash Pond 2) in series

that settle fly ash and bottom ash from the wet sluicing operations. Ash Pond 1 is 

where the majority of the settling occurs, while Ash Pond 2 acts as a polishing 

pond prior to discharge. Both the fly ash and bottom ash handling systems have 

the ability to direct wet sluice to the ash ponds, even after the bottom ash 

conversion to the remote SFC. Wateree is currently planning to close Ash Pond 1

by 2021. As part of the closure, Wateree’s goal is to eliminate the use of the fly 

ash wet sluicing system and operate the remote SFCs as a complete recycle 

system.

• Wateree installed selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems on both units to 

control nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the plant, and these systems operate 

year-round. Additionally, each unit utilizes low-NOx burners. The NOx burners 

were installed in June 1998 (modified November 1998) for Unit 1 and October 

1998 for Unit 2. The SCR’s were installed in 2003 and 2004 for Units 1 and 2,

respectively.

• Wateree operates one wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system which services 

both units. This system is a limestone forced oxidation system that achieves a 
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90% sulfur dioxide (SO2) removal efficiency. The plant uses intake water from 

the Wateree River as FGD reagent preparation water, absorber make-up water, 

and mist eliminator wash water. FGD make-up water is also a source of make-up 

water to the remote SFC.

• Wateree sells its fly ash and bottom ash to cement and concrete pipe 

manufacturers. The plant also sells a mix of fly ash and bottom ash that is dredged 

from Ash Pond 1, fly ash product from the carbon burnout (CBO) process, and 

dewatered bottom ash from the remote SFC. Wateree stores any fly ash and 

bottom ash that cannot be sold in a lined, onsite landfill. 

Bottom Ash Handling

• In 2012, Wateree converted their bottom ash handling system to a remote SFC 

designed by United Conveyor Corporation (UCC). Wateree started planning the 

bottom ash handling system conversion in 2010 for both units. Construction for 

the remote SFC system started in 2011, simultaneously for both units, in an area 

of the plant that was not occupied by any equipment or buildings at the time. The 

following is a list of key points in the timeline of the retrofit, starting from when 

the project went out to bid to end of construction:

o August 2010 to November 2010 – Project Bid Phase;

o November 2010 to January 2011 – Bid Evaluation and Award Phase;

o January 2011 to June 2011 – Preliminary Engineering, Scope and Budget 

Development;

o August 2011 – Mobilization Construction to Site;

o Fall 2011 – Piping Installation and Modifications to Unit 2;

o Spring 2011 – Piping Installation and Modifications to Unit 1;

o February 2012 to August 2012 – Installation of remote SFC equipment 

and piping from Units 1 and 2 to remote SFC;

o August 2012 to October 2012 – Start-up and Commissioning; and

o November 2012 – Final Project Completion.

• The remote SFC retrofits were completed by the end of October 2012. The units 

were operational at that time, but the plant is continuing to work through minor 

start up issues. Wateree expects to resolve these minor issues by June 2013. The 

startup issues include working on flow regulation and sorting out the controls,

sensors, pumps and valves. In total, the bottom ash conversion took

approximately two and one-half years from inception to completion.

• Prior to the conversion, Wateree wet sluiced bottom ash to the ash ponds. From 

the ash ponds, Wateree adjusts the pH of the water prior to discharge to the 

Wateree River via Outfall 03A.

• Wateree started looking into bottom ash handling retrofit options after 

determining that wet sluicing bottom ash to Ash Pond 1 was not a sustainable,

long-term solution. Additionally, Wateree has identified groundwater monitoring 
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issues associated with Ash Pond 1. Wateree stated that they were trying to 

anticipate what could result from the revisions to the Steam Electric ELGs.

Furthermore, Wateree aimed to cease bottom ash sluicing by June 1, 2015, and 

close Ash Pond 1 by 2021.

• As stated previously, the bottom ash technology evaluation began in 2010. 

Wateree evaluated the following systems for the conversion:

o Mechanical drag system (MDS);

o Dry drag conveyer system/vibratory conveyor system;

o Pneumatic handling systems (vacuum/pressure); 

o Complete recycle system with dewatering bins; and

o Remote SFC (operated in complete recycle).

• Wateree did not install the MDS, dry drag conveyor system, or the vibratory 

conveyor system because these dry ash handling systems require more space in 

the boiler basement than Wateree had available. Additionally, Wateree does not 

have a direct path out of the boiler room required for these types of conveyor 

systems. Accommodating these systems would have required boiler and hopper 

modifications, and relocation of equipment and piping beneath the boiler such as 

the boiler feed booster pump and the coal mill process piping. Additionally, there 

was not enough vertical space below the boilers, so installing any of these options 

would have required excavation. 

• Wateree did not install any pneumatic bottom ash handling systems due to vertical 

space underneath the boiler and experience with the performance of the systems at 

the SCE&G’s McMeekin Station. Wateree noted the following issues with a 

pneumatic bottom ash handling system based on its experience with the 

McMeekin Station: 

o Total length of piping required for the system and likelihood that it would 

plug (characteristics of bottom ash);

o New air compressor required to move ash;

o Modification required to the bottom of the furnace to replace the wet 

boiler seal;

o Limited space for any excavation underneath the boiler; and

o Employee safety concerns working with the system.

• Wateree personnel explained that after the initial evaluation, the remote SFC and 

dewatering bin complete recycle systems had equal benefits. Wateree evaluated 

the following items to select the system for the conversion:

o Confidence in the technology;

o Capital installation costs;

o Life cycle costs;

o Equipment/footprint/layout required for the system;

o Industry and SCE&G experience; and

o Schedule for installation.
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• Wateree ultimately selected the remote SFC system because it was determined to 

be more cost effective (on paper, not based on direct numbers because this is the 

first system of its kind), the foot print of the remote SFC was more flexible, and

the installation schedule matched their needs. Wateree determined that the cost of 

the substantial foundations required for the dewatering and settling bins were too 

high. Based on available data about the system, Wateree determined that the 

remote SFC was a more robust system. Additionally, Wateree stated that because 

the remote SFC is at ground level versus the taller dewatering bin set up, the 

equipment is more accessible and O&M of the remote SFC system is more 

convenient.

• Wateree installed two remote SFC systems to handle the bottom ash from both 

units. The bottom ash handling system retrofit was completed within the planned 

outages in October 2012. The majority of the construction (which lasted 

approximately 18 months) was completed while the units were still online, and 

work during the outage was related to piping tie-ins. The planned unit outage was 

two weeks in duration, but the actual time required for the tie-in of the remote 

SFCs was less than one week. The cost for the two remote SFC system retrofit

was approximately $22.5 million. Wateree could not provide a further break down 

of because the system has not been in service with sufficient operating time to 

estimate the frequency of replacement for equipment components, including the 

pump seals.

• Both remote SFCs are located behind the Unit 2 fly ash baghouse. Each remote

SFC was designed large enough to serve as a combined dewatering tank, settling 

tank and surge tank for the total volume of bottom ash sluice from both units. The 

front of each remote SFC (i.e., the ramp) performs the separating and dewatering, 

and the middle and rear of each remote SFC acts as a settling tank.

• Although there are two remote SFCs, under normal operating conditions, Wateree 

directs the bottom ash sluice from both units (sequentially) to one remote SFC at a 

time, while the other remote SFC acts as a surge (overflow) tank. The plant 

alternates between which remote SFC receives bottom ash sluice and which

remote SFC acts as the surge tank every other week so that solids accumulating in 

the remote SFC receiving the overflow can be removed. Wateree stated that UCC 

designed the system to have redundancies (i.e., each individual remote SFC has 

the capacity to service bottom ash sluice from both units without overflowing to 

the other remote SFC). In order to operate one remote SFC alone (i.e., without the 

other remote SFC as a surge tank), Wateree would need to change the sequence of 

operation and timing of pulling bottom ash. Wateree stated that this is not a 

typical or expected mode of operation. As a backup, each remote SFC has an 

emergency flow line located near the front of the SFC that directs water to the 

remote SFC sump. The remote SFC sump is an area where emergency overflow 

and water from the bottom ash pile are directed. This water is immediately 

recycled back into the remote SFCs using slurry pumps.
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• Wateree did not make any changes to the bottom of the boiler/hoppers, clinker 

grinders, or hydroveyor for the retrofit. Wateree installed additional piping and a 

“Y” joint, approximately 100 feet away from the bottom of the boiler. The forks 

of the “Y” represent the split in the piping where the plant can direct the bottom

ash sluice to Ash Pond 1 or the remote SFCs. Additional piping around the boiler 

was installed to return overflow water from the remote SFCs to the hopper (i.e., 

makeup quench water). Wateree also altered the bottom ash sluice piping to bring 

the recycled overflow water from the remote SFCs back to the hydroveyor (the 

vacuum supplying the power to wet sluice the bottom ash).

• Bottom ash falls from the boiler into the hopper where it is quenched in water.

The source of the quench water is primarily overflow recycle from the remote 

SFC; however, Wateree uses raw intake water as makeup water for bottom ash 

handling when necessary (i.e., losses due to evaporation). 

• Wateree holds the bottom ash in the hoppers until the operators determine it is 

time to convey bottom ash to the remote SFCs. The plant usually sluices bottom 

ash from each unit one time during first and second shifts (totaling two times per 

day for each unit). Wet sluicing the bottom ash takes approximately 20 minutes 

for each unit. From the bottom ash hopper, the bottom ash sluice is conveyed by 

hydroveyors to the remote SFC systems or Ash Pond 1. The bottom ash sluice is 

conveyed approximately 400 feet to 500 feet from the unit to the remote SFC. 

Any overflow from the hoppers is directed to an overflow tank prior to being

transferred directly to the remote SFCs through different piping than the bottom 

ash sluice.

• The sluice pipes transport the bottom ash sluice to the remote SFC, dropping it 

directly over the center of the open remote SFC, and the bottom ash is discharged

over a splash plate. The splash plate prevents bottom ash solids from 

accumulating directly below the inlet to the remote SFC and evenly distributes the 

bottom ash in the remote SFC. As the bottom ash settles, the drag chain collects it 

from the bottom of the tank and drags the bottom ash from the rear of the system

to the front and up the ramp of the remote SFC. The drag chain consists of two 

long parallel chains that run the length of the remote SFC. The chains are 

connected with conveyor blades that run horizontally which are the mechanisms 

that grab the settled bottom ash and move it up the incline.

• At the front of the remote SFC, the conveyor moves bottom ash out of the water 

and up the incline, which dewaters the bottom ash. The drag chain is operated on 

a timer, determined during system testing, for optimal bottom ash removal. At the 

top of the incline, the dewatered bottom ash falls over the edge and into a concrete 

bunker. The moisture content of the dewatered bottom ash on the drag chain is 

approximately 23-25%, but the ash continues to dewater to approximately 20%

moisture as it sits in the concrete bunker. The water from this additional 

dewatering is collected in the remote SFC sump and then sent back to the remote

SFC.
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• Wateree personnel stated that they are not concerned about residual solids in the 

sump because slurry pumps send any water collected back into the remote SFC 

system for dewatering. UCC stated that removing solids from the sumps should 

not be necessary; therefore, Wateree is not planning any solids removal at this 

time. Trucks come to retrieve the bottom ash out of the concrete bunkers 

periodically. Wateree sells the bottom ash to concrete and block/pipe fabrication 

companies or stores it in the onsite landfill, located approximately one mile from 

the remote SFC systems. In the last month, Wateree sold almost 100 percent of its 

bottom ash. Currently due to market demand, trucks transport bottom ash on a 

daily basis Monday through Friday.

• The remote SFC dewatering the bottom ash sluice is receiving bottom ash sluice 

periodically, makeup water (raw-intake water) as necessary, water from the 

remote SFC sumps, hydroveyor water (constantly running), and hopper overflow 

water (quench water). Make-up water is sent to the remote SFC system to 

maintain water level in the system due to evaporation and drainage associated 

with miscellaneous maintenance and operating activities. As the remote SFC fills 

with water, the solids settle to the bottom and the overflow flows over weirs at the 

rear of the SFC. The top of the weir is approximately 24 feet above the base of the 

remote SFCs. The overflow is directed to the main compartment of the second

remote SFC acting as the surge tank. The empty weight of each remote SFC is 

250,000 pounds, the weight filled with water and ash for the design storage time 

is 1,100,000 pounds for each remote SFC. Water from the overflow of the remote 

SFC is returned to the boilers constantly by low pressure pumps to supply the 

hydroveyor with water and keep the water seal on the bottom of the boilers intact.

• The plant has kept the option of sending the bottom ash sluice to Ash Pond 1 if 

needed. The operator controls which pipeline the sluice travels down by opening 

and closing valves at the “Y” junction point. During the first few months of

remote SFC operation, Wateree sent some bottom ash sluice to the ash ponds due 

to startup issues. Moving forward, Wateree does not plan to send any bottom ash 

sluice to Ash Pond 1 after 2015 and plans to close Ash Pond 1 by 2021. Wateree 

stated that the bottom ash sluice flow from the unit to the remote SFC is similar to 

the sluice amount previously sent to the pond. Wateree does not have a way to 

monitor the flows from their sluice systems, but the SFC operation is expected to

reduce the total sluice flow and discharge flow at Outfall 03A.

• The new piping for the system is ceramic, fiberglass pipe. This type of pipe is 

corrosion resistant. SCE&G plants have had good experiences with this type of 

piping for sluicing systems. The length of pipe from where the new system ties in 

to the old sluice pipes and the return from the remote SFCs to boiler is all new 

piping. Wateree installed metal piping to transfer makeup water to the remote 

SFC systems and boiler. 

• The remote SFC systems are open-top tanks. Wateree stated that rainfall does not 

alter the water balance of the system unless there is an uncharacteristically high 

rainfall. In anticipation of unusually high rainfall, Wateree attempts to adjust the 
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water usage rate to accommodate, but if the rainfall is too great and the available 

water in the bottom ash sump exceeds the water balance for the system, then 

water is discharged from the Bottom Ash Sump to Ash Pond 1 until the system 

water balance is restored.

• Wateree stated that the drag chain in the system should last approximately three to 

five years prior to requiring replacement. Specific plates within the chain cannot

be replaced because the chains can stretch and become uneven, making the 

replacement of a single plate difficult. Wateree also stated that they complete tests 

on the equipment to replace these chains prior to breaking, as preventative 

maintenance. After the drag chain, the pumps seals will likely need replacing.

• The plant stated that the annual operation and maintenance cost will range from

approximately $800,000 to $1.5 million, which is a hypothetical cost for 

replacement of a drag chain. As previously noted, the system has not been in 

service with sufficient operating time to estimate the frequency of replacement for 

equipment components including the pump seals. The O&M cost for equipment 

repair and replacement does not necessarily include all possible costs.

• Wateree does not monitor the concentration of total suspended solids (TSS)

recycled from the remote SFCs to the boiler. UCC completed some testing on 

TSS concentrations between operating both remote SFCs compared to operating 

just one without an overflow tank. TSS testing was performed during initial 

system start-up and commissioning. The system is still undergoing design 

modifications based on boiler hopper overflow items discovered during operation.

Representative TSS results will not be available until completion of system 

modifications and a subsequent reasonable duration for system operation. Wateree 

also stated that they do not monitor the pH of the recycle stream and that UCC did 

not recommend any chemical addition to the recycle stream.

Fly Ash Handling

• Wateree collects fly ash using fabric filter baghouses. Electrostatic precipitators 

were originally installed on each unit and replaced with reverse gas fabric filters

in 2001 and 2002 for Units 1 and 2, respectively.

• Wateree can convey fly ash using a wet sluicing system or a wet vacuum 

pneumatic system. Wet fly ash is sluiced directly to Ash Pond 1. Dry fly ash from 

Unit 1 is conveyed to Silo 1. Dry fly ash from Unit 2 is conveyed to Silo 2. Unit 1 

silo has a capacity of 1,000 tons.

• From Silo 1, the dry fly ash can be pneumatically conveyed to the onsite carbon 

burnout (CBO) system. The CBO system is a self-sustained fluid bed boiler, and 

it re-burns the fly ash to achieve a lower loss on ignition (LOI). Wateree sends fly 

ash to the CBO system with LOI’s that range from 8-25 percent, and the CBO

system produces a 1-3 percent LOI product. The plant stores the fly ash product in 

a storage dome on site. If the fly ash feed does not meet 8-25 percent LOI, then 
Page 9

Wateree either supplements the feed with fly ash from outside sources (e.g., 

McMeekin) or moisture conditions the fly ash for disposal in the onsite landfill. 

Actual LOI ranges vary considerably with the process of combustion, which may 

slow-down or speed up the process.

• When Wateree cannot send fly ash to the CBO system, the plant moisture 

conditions the fly ash to approximately 20 percent using pug mill mixers and 

transports the fly ash via trucks to the onsite landfill. Silo 1 has the capability to 

send ash to the CBO system and moisture condition the ash for unloading into 

trucks.

• From Unit 2, Wateree can pneumatically convey the dry fly ash to Silo 1, wet 

sluice the ash to Ash Pond 1, or store the fly ash in Silos 2A and 2B. Silos 2A and 

2B have the ability to send fly ash to the CBO system but do not have the 

capability to unload the fly ash onto trucks.

• Currently, the priority for handling fly ash at the Wateree plant is to re-burn the 

fly ash at the CBO system and market the ash, store it in the onsite landfill, and as 

a last resort, wet sluice the fly ash to Ash Pond 1.

• Wateree originally designed the fly ash handling system to be a dual wet and dry 

system, but the system does not have any redundancies built in. Because of this, 

Wateree needs to wet sluice their fly ash to the ash ponds if the dry handling 

system is down for maintenance. Wateree is working on solutions to handle their 

fly ash completely dry by 2018 and to close Ash Pond 1 by 2021.

Flue Gas Desulfurization System

• Wateree operates one wet FGD system that services both units. This system is a 

limestone forced oxidation system that achieves approximately 90 percent

removal of sulfur dioxide. The plant uses intake water from the Wateree River for

FGD reagent preparation water, absorber make-up water, and mist eliminator 

wash water. 

• Wateree maintains their chlorides concentration in the scrubber at 2,000 to 3,000

ppm, though the design chlorides level is 15,000 ppm. Plant staff stated that this 

low chlorides level is due to the quality of their coal and not due to any special 

effort on the plant’s part to keep chloride levels low. 

• The plant blows down from the FGD scrubber twice a day. The scrubber blow 

down flow rate varies with unit load and coal sulfur content. The blowdown is 

sent to primary hydrocyclones. The overflow from the primary hydrocyclones is 

transferred back to the FGD scrubber or sent to the secondary hydrocyclones. The 

underflow from the primary hydrocyclones is sent to the filter feed tank and 

vacuum drum filters.
Page 10

• Overflow from the secondary hydrocyclones (i.e., FGD scrubber purge) is sent to 

the FGD ponds. The underflow from the secondary hydrocyclones is sent to 

Wateree’s WFGD Reclaim Water Tank and returned to the FGD scrubber. Filtrate 

is also transferred to the WFGD Reclaim Water Tank and returned to the FGD 

scrubber. Wateree stores the dewatered gypsum in the onsite landfill.

• The FGD ponds consist of two concrete forebays operated in parallel. FGD 

scrubber purge is discharged into one forebay at a time. While one forebay is 

filling, the other is being dredged and the solids are sent to the onsite landfill. The 

two forebays overflow into a combined pond, and then into a polishing pond. 

From the polishing pond, the treated FGD water discharges into the back end of 

Ash Pond 1 (i.e., near the overflow weir), prior to overflowing into Ash Pond 2. 

The FGD wastewater is ultimately discharged to the Wateree River after pH 

adjustment in Ash Pond 2. During EPA’s site visit, a filter press was observed at 

the FGD ponds. Plant personnel stated that this was rental equipment from a 

contractor dredging the FGD ponds. SCE&G does not own a filter press or other 

equipment used at the FGD ponds.

• Wateree is currently in the process of installing further treatment for the FGD 

scrubber purge. As part of the additional treatment, Wateree is considering adding 

equalization tanks (immediately after the hydrocyclones) and a Lamella clarifier 

with polymer addition prior to sending the FGD wastewater to the FGD ponds. 

Wateree would also add a filter press for solids removal. Wateree would either 

landfill or potentially sell the solids from the filter press. The filtrate would likely 

be discharged to the FGD ponds. Because this waste stream is the FGD 

blowdown, used to maintain the chloride levels in the absorber, the filtrate cannot 

be recycled back to the absorber due to high chloride levels.

• Wateree is considering this addition because the FGD treatment ponds are filling 

up with solids, which are difficult to dewater naturally.

Landfills/Ponds

• Wateree currently operates two unlined ponds in series – a primary ash settling

pond (Ash Pond 1) and a polishing pond (Ash Pond 2). Ash Pond 1 receives 

bottom ash sluice (when the system is not achieving complete recycle), fly ash 

sluice (when not handling dry), low volume wastes (LVW), coal pile runoff

(CPR), general runoff, filter backwash, ion exchange wastewater, and boiler

leakage. These wastewaters enter Ash Pond 1 at the front end of the pond. Ash 

Pond 1 also receives treated FGD wastewater combined with ash landfill 

runoff/leachate, which enters the ash pond near the overflow weir in the pond. 

Ash Pond 1 is approximately 80 acres and is currently 80% full. Ash Pond 1 

drains into the Ash Pond 2 (polishing pond) prior to discharge.

• Wateree intends to close Ash Pond 1 by 2021. Since the installation of the remote 

SFC, Wateree is confident that they should never need to send bottom ash sluice 

to Ash Pond 1 again. Wateree still wet sluices fly ash to Ash Pond 1 when the dry 
Page 11

fly ash handling system is down for maintenance. For the other wastewaters, 

Wateree plans to install a lined pond adjacent to or within the existing ash pond. 

The new pond will be operated as a wastewater pond and will receive landfill 

leachate, CPR, LVW, treated FGD wastewater, etc., prior to draining into Ash 

Pond 2. Wateree adjusts the pH of the wastewater with 93% sulfuric acid at the 

end of Ash Pond 2 prior to discharge into Wateree River.

• At this time, there are no plans to replace or close Ash Pond 2.

• Ash Pond 1 is currently being excavated in two areas. The plant is excavating ash 

near the inlet of the pond where the larger particles of ash have settled and is

moving the ash to the landfill. In addition, companies who want to purchase the 

mixed bottom and fly ash solids are excavating further out in the ash pond where 

the finer particles have settled out (more marketable combined ash). As part of the 

Ash Pond 1 closure and installation of a new pond, Wateree first sets the dredged 

solids on the side of the pond to dewater prior to trucking them away. Wateree 

plans to finish dredging Ash Pond 1 and moving the solids offsite by 2021.

• Wateree personnel stated that they have found issues related to Ash Pond 1 in 

groundwater monitoring results. Wateree personnel stated that Ash Pond 1 has not 

had any impacts on surface water.

• Wateree began operating its onsite landfill four years ago, and it was designed for

a 30-35 year life. The landfill is approximately 140 acres and stores boiler slag, 

bottom ash, fly ash, and calcium sulfate (gypsum). The landfill is lined, and the 

leachate collected is transferred to Ash Pond 1 (which ultimately discharges to 

Ash Pond 2). The landfill was designed to provide 17.6 M cubic yards of disposal 

capacity, with the life span of the landfill dependent on CCR recycling efforts.
Page 12

Table 2. Site Visit Attendees

Name Organization (Representing) Telephone E-mail

Tom Effinger SCANA 803-217-9367 teffinger@scana.com

Mike Summer SCE&G 803-217-9155 msummer@scana.com

Jack Robinson SCE&G 803-217-6324 jrobinson@scana.com

Jim Landreth SCE&G 803-217-7224 jlandreth@scana.com

Mark Ferguson SCANA 803-217-8103 mferguson1@scana.com

John Durkee E2

S 843-214-0663 e2sciences@bellsouth.net

Donna Hill Southern Company 205-257-5234 dbhill@southernco.com

April Kelly SCE&G 803-217-4020 apkelly@scana.com

Ron Jordan EPA 202-566-1003 jordan.ronald@epa.gov

Jezebele Alicea EPA 202-566-1755 alicea.jezebele@epa.gov

Daisy Wang ERG 703-633-1692 daisy.wang@erg.com

Elizabeth Sabol ERG 610-344-0829 elizabeth.sabol@erg.com