Bamberg has a unique asset that means real savings and reliable service to our residents and industries alike. The Bamberg Board of Public Works is one of the top-rated municipal utilities. Bamberg BPW is so efficient and so cost-conscious that the utility can offer electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater treatment at some of the lowest rates in the state. Not only that, but through the Bamberg BPW Board's foresight and long-range planning, current and prospective industries can rest assured the City of Bamberg will be a host with ample water and treatment capacity to meet their future needs.
The administrative offices of the Board of Public Works are located at 2340 Main Highway in Bamberg. These offices are located in the City Hall building. The Clerk/Treasurer serves in that capacity for both the City of Bamberg and the Board of Public Works. The salaries of the Clerk/Treasurer and clerks in the office are paid in part by the City of Bamberg and the Board of Public Works. The Board of Public Works has an annual operating budget of over 10 million dollars.
The Board of Public Works water system consists of three (3) wells, three elevated tanks with 1,100,000 gallons of storage capacity and miles of main. The Board of Public Works water system serves the incorporated area of Bamberg and on Hwy. 78 west to the Bamberg County Industrial Park and on Hwy. 78 east to the Midway Community. The Board of Public Works utilizes iron removal units as well as the addition of a polyphosphate solution and chlorine to treat water from the wells.
The Board of Public Works Wastewater Treatment Plant is permitted for 1 million gallons per day of sanitary and industrial waste. The Wastewater Treatment Plant is an aerated lagoon system. The Board of Public Works utilizes more than 225 acres of spray-fields for land application of effluent from the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The Board of Public Works is one of only 21 municipal power systems in the state of South Carolina. The Board of Public Works is one of only 2 municipal systems that purchases electricity from the SC Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper). Electricity from Santee Cooper is distributed through the Board of Public Works Substation that is located at the corner of Elm Street and Calhoun Street. Board of Public Works electric rates are consistently among the lowest in the state.
Download 2020 Integrated Resource PlanNatural gas is the newest of utilities offered by the Board of Public Works. The natural gas system was constructed and began service in the early 1960's. With the other utilities pretty much limited to the incorporated area of Bamberg, natural gas has seen rapid growth in number of customers and service territory. The Board of Public Works natural gas system has over 70 miles of main.
The Board of Public Works serves Bamberg, Cope and the western side of Cordova. Natural gas mains extend from 5 miles south of Bamberg on Hwy. 301 to the junction of Hwy. 70 and Hwy. 301 in Orangeburg County. The Board of Public Works also has mains from Hwy. 78 west of Bamberg at the Bamberg County Industrial Park to the Midway Community 5 miles east of Bamberg on Hwy. 78. The Board of Public Works purchases natural gas from S.C. Pipeline Corporation.
In a joint venture with the Southern Carolina Alliance, the Board of Public Works also provides water and wastewater service to the South Carolina Advanced Technology (SCAT) Park in Snelling, SC.
