As originally published in LowcountryBizSC: https://whosonthemove.com/consolidation-was-the-right-move-for-the-lowcountrys-water-future/
By Becky Dennis
Director of Operations
Kiawah Island Utility
Water is our most precious resource, and the responsibility to deliver it safely and reliably is one we take seriously locally at Kiawah Island Utility (KIU) and across all our other systems in the state through South Carolina Water Utilities (SCWU). As the director of operations of the many systems we operate in the Lowcountry, I want to speak directly to our customers about the reason behind—and the many benefits of—the consolidation of our regional operations.
SCWU is the largest private water and wastewater provider in the state. Our reach is not just about size; it includes customer service and excellent operations. KIU serves nearly 7,000 customers in the Lowcountry alone, in communities such as Pleasant Point Plantation, Harbor Island, Chechessee Bluff, Callawassie, Spring Island, and Kiawah Island.
Our broad footprint means we have the resources—personnel, equipment, and technical expertise—to provide premier water and wastewater services. We’ve also been able to make significant infrastructure upgrades, such as entire plant rebuilds at Harbor Island and Pleasant Point, and major wastewater process repairs at Callawassie Island and Kiawah Island. Also, Spring Island and Callawassie Island customers will soon see the installation of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), with Harbor Island following in the near future, which will help customers better manage their usage. We recognize these upgrades are essential for maintaining service quality and meeting environmental standards.
Consolidation reduces the number of separate utilities we manage, which reduces administrative costs and related regulatory filings—generating savings that go directly back to our customers.
A unified utility in the Lowcountry will give us greater flexibility to respond to future challenges and be more strategic in how and where we invest in infrastructure, ensuring that all our systems remain modern, compliant, and dependable.
I want to emphasize that this plan was not developed in a vacuum. Our customers were the first to hear about it last year, and we have been working closely with local homeowners’ associations to keep the lines of communication open. We have also set up a dedicated email address—scwuinfo@nexuswg.com—so customers can ask questions directly and get the information they need. The South Carolina Public Service Commission has also reviewed and approved this plan.
KIU and SCWU will continue to prioritize customer service at the highest level. Our commitment remains firm—we will do everything we can to ensure your water works for your home, your community, and generations to come.
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Becky Dennis is the director of operations for Kiawah Island Utility, a private water utility company with water and wastewater systems throughout the Lowcountry. She has been in the water industry for 48 years.