BPW gets $1M grant to upgrade water plant

Some federal funds will be flowing the Gaffney Board of Public Works' way.

An appropriations bill passed by Congress last week contained $1 million for the utility to upgrade its water plant, U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) announced Friday.

The funds will allow the utility to comply with federal mandates and will increase the plant's treatment capacity from six million to nine million gallons a day.

"We appreciate all that John Spratt has done for us," Gaffney Board of Public Works General Manager Donnie Hardin said.

Hardin also tipped his cap to commissioner Joe Dean Knuckles who also was instrumental in securing the funds.

The upgrades to the Cherokee Water plant should be completed soon, Hardin said.