Union County Water System

The Catawba River Water Treatment Plant (CRWTP) supplies most of Union County's water and has been recognized for exceeding federal and state water quality standards. In 2015, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control awarded CRWTP the Area-Wide Optimization System (AWOP) recognition for exceptional water quality performance.

While most water systems meet basic regulatory requirements, AWOP establishes more rigorous performance targets. Through this program, CRWTP has enhanced filtration and treatment processes to deliver water quality approximately three times better than EPA standards require. The facility joined AWOP in 2003 and has earned recognition for meeting these stringent goals in 12 of the past 13 years.

Union County jointly owns and operates the Catawba River Water Treatment Plant with Lancaster County Water and Sewer District in South Carolina, which currently supplies 80% of the county's water needs. Additionally, Union County maintains a wholesale water agreement with Anson County, NC for up to 4 million gallons daily. The county currently has a total capacity of 25 million gallons per day (MGD).

Q. What is the WaterSmart Software Program?
A. The City of Brighton has partnered with WaterSmart Software to provide residents with an advanced engagement portal and customized household water reports. This tool helps customers better understand their water usage patterns and discover ways to conserve water and reduce costs.

Q. How do I register for the WaterSmart Customer Portal?
A. Visit https://brighton.watersmart.com/index.php/welcome and enter your utility Account Number and zip code. After registration, you can create a username and password linked to your preferred email address.

Q. How should I use the Customer Portal?
A. The portal serves as a resource to help you monitor and manage your water consumption. It offers comparative usage data, consumption tracking tools, and personalized conservation recommendations based on your specific usage patterns. For example, if your outdoor usage is high, you'll receive irrigation-specific suggestions.

Q. How can I customize my Customer Portal profile?
A. Brighton residents can personalize their profile through the Household Profile section, found in the drop-down menu under your name in the upper right corner. This section asks specific questions about your household—occupants, bathrooms, yard size, etc. Completing this profile improves the relevance and accuracy of your water-saving recommendations.

Q. What information is in the Home Water Report?
A. WaterSmart generates reports based on your monthly meter readings. These are not bills but informational reports showing your usage in gallons per day (GPD), comparisons to previous years' consumption during the same period, and customized conservation recommendations. The reports also include upcoming community water events.

Q. How am I compared to other households?
A. Efficient household usage is calculated as the 20th percentile of water consumption within similar customer groups. Average usage is the median consumption within these groups. Comparisons are based on occupancy, irrigable property area, housing type, and sometimes geographical location.

Q. How can I access previous Home Water Reports?
A. In your Customer Portal, click the "Task" tab at the top of the screen. On the "Overview" chart, hover over the Water Report gray rectangle, then click any part of the popup panel to view that month's report.

Q. Do I really use this much water?
A. Various factors affect water consumption. Increases may result from house guests, filling pools or hot tubs, fixing leaks, or seasonal irrigation. Decreases might come from installing efficient appliances, adjusting irrigation schedules, repairing leaks, or household changes. For reference, 100 gallons of water equals approximately:

• 78 high-efficiency toilet flushes
• 10 five-minute showers
• 5 loads of laundry with HE machines
• 8 minutes running one sprinkler zone
• 10 hours of drip irrigation (0.5 mph, 20 emitters)
• 2 days of evaporation from an uncovered pool