According to the Congaree Riverkeeper, thousands of gallons of sewage spilled into the Congaree River on Saturday.
CAYCE, S.C. — A sanitary sewer overflow in Cayce has forced the closure of part of the city’s Riverwalk after erosion damaged the boardwalk structure.
Cayce resident William Terry said he’s frustrated by the repeated sewage issues in the area.
“Something's got to change to make our waters cleaner and better for the future,” Terry said. “It's been going on for years and years. Every time it rains hard seems like we have a sewage spill, and I just think it's a shame this day and age that you can't stop raw sewage, thousands and thousands of gallons of water or raw sewage going into our rivers.”
According to the Congaree Riverkeeper, thousands of gallons of sewage spilled into the Congaree River on Saturday. As a result, Cayce Mayor Elise Partin confirmed that parts of the Riverwalk are closed to the public.
“It was a utility line that broke,” Partin said. “Our utility team reacted very quickly and made sure that that spill was stopped as quickly as they could get to it, but also to bypass that broken line.”
The closure affects the area near the railroad trestles downstream to Kelly Jones Park. Officials say the area will remain off-limits until further notice.
“You'll see these piers that, uh, are built with a foundation, um, down in the, the water, uh, that helps to stabilize it,” Partin said. “Well, that is unfortunately eroded and that's what's not safe. So we, we definitely have to keep people out of there until we can get that navigated and, and repaired.”
The spill is impacting businesses that rely on access to the river, including Palmetto Outdoor, a company offering tubing and kayaking excursions.
“We are opening and launching a new trip from Gervais Street Bridge down to the Kelly Jones takeout,” Andy Byler said. “of course with that kind of section being closed up, it makes access a little bit harder, but we're able to work around that slightly. But of course when that is back open, we'll be able to fully operate with our new sea to sea trip.”
According to the Congaree Riverkeeper, this is the city’s second-largest sewage spill in the past week, raising concern among local residents.
“It impacts me a lot. I have 7 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and I want them to be able to enjoy the river like I've been able to enjoy it all my life,” Terry said. “There's got to be a better solution than what's been going on for years.”
The Riverkeeper advises people to avoid contact with the river downstream of the spill for several days.