• Project Data

When the state of South Carolina ordered the lush resort island of Hilton Head to reduce its use of groundwater by July 1999, the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA) in Beaufort, South Carolina, stepped in to supply additional water to the area. "We entered a contract to provide water to two of the three public service districts that serve Hilton Head, Hilton Head Public Service District #1, and Broad Creek Public Service District," said Beaufort-Jasper Authority's Chief Engineer Ed Saxon. The extension of service to Hilton Head required 140,000 feet of 4-inch through 30-inch minimum pressure class ductile iron pipe, the majority being 20-inch and larger, to be installed between BJWSA's water plant in the Okatie area of Beaufort County and the Hilton Head Island Palmetto Dunes area. In order to control costs and expedite completion, BJWSA divided the distinct phases of the work into five separate contracts that would allow work to proceed simultaneously. In addition, BJWSA purchased the pipe directly from AMERICAN. "This gave some of our local contractors an opportunity to bid on the project," explained Saxon. Tideland Utilities — in the nearby city of Summerville — was awarded one of the contracts, while Jordan Construction of Hilton Head would serve as subcontractor for installation of the 24-inch pipe on Hilton Head Island. Splitting the projects into separate contracts provided the water authority with a key advantage. "Because the installation would be done more efficiently through separate contracts, we were able to save money and still buy the highest quality materials for the project," Saxon said. "We knew early on that we wanted AMERICAN Ductile Iron pipe." Saxon's previous experience with the exceptional performance of AMERICAN's products influenced his decision to stay with AMERICAN for the Hilton Head project. "I've been with the Beaufort-Jasper Water Authority for 10 years, and virtually everything we've installed with a diameter of 16 inches and above has been AMERICAN pipe," he said. "AMERICAN has always provided us with competitive pricing and timely deliveries of pipe." Because speed of installation was a primary concern, AMERICAN's ability to get pipe to the job site quickly was a key determinant in the Water Authority's decision to use AMERICAN pipe. "We knew that once we purchased the pipe from AMERICAN, they would get the product to the contractors quickly so they could begin installation immediately," recalled Saxon. AMERICAN's quick response in delivering pipe to the various job sites enabled the contractors to begin simultaneous work on the project in late April 1998. Because much of the pipe would run through high-traffic areas, AMERICAN's high-performance cement mortar lining was used for its increased durability, longevity, and non-corrosive attributes. AMERICAN's Fastite® and Flex-Ring® pipe and Fast-Grip® gaskets were used for the entire project because of their ease of installation and size versatility. Southern Champion of Tucker, Georgia, served as contractor on one division; 4,000 feet of 24-inch Fastite® pipe were used for this phase of the work. Contractors for the 30-inch main, Tideland Utilities, installed 50,000 feet of 30-inch Fastite® and Flex-Ring® pipe, while Triangle Construction of Savannah, Georgia, installed 12,000 feet of 20-inch Fastite® pipe. R.H. Moore of Murrels Inlet, South Carolina — working with subcontractor Jordan Construction of Hilton Head — installed 31,000 feet of 24-inch Fastite® for the main on Hilton Head Island. R.H. Moore also installed the first leg of the Hilton Head transmission main, 45,000 feet of 30-inch pipe, in 1995 to serve Del Web's Sun City Hilton Head Development. Installation of the entire 140,000 feet of pipe was completed on schedule well before the June 1999 deadline. The overall success of the Hilton Head project, according to Saxon, was due in large part to AMERICAN's quick delivery response and the ease of installation of the Fastite® pipe. "Everything went smoothly during the course of installation. We're very pleased," said Saxon. In fact, he's so pleased that the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority has entered into a long-term agreement to purchase AMERICAN products. "As long as AMERICAN continues to offer a competitive price and superior performance, we'll continue to use their product, and we expect that to be a long, long time."

The Hilton Head project required 140,000 feet of ductile iron pipe through 30" diameters. The Beaufort-Jasper Water Authority has relied upon AMERICAN Ductile Iron pipe for years.

Project Data

Owner:	Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority, Beaufort, South Carolina
Projects:	Hilton Head Water Transmission Lines:
Division B - 24-Inch Water Main
Engineer:	Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung, Savannah, Georgia
Contractor:	Southern-Champion, Tucker, Georgia;
Material:	4,000 feet of 24" Class 200 Fastite®
24-Inch Island Water Main
Engineer:	B.P. Barber, Columbia, South Carolina
Contractor:	R.H. Moore Company, Murrels Inlet, South Carolina, and subcontractor Jordan Construction, Hilton Head, South Carolina;
Material:	31,000 feet of 24" Class 200 Fastite®
30-Inch Water Main
Engineer:	B.P. Barber, Columbia, South Carolina
Contractor:	Tideland Utilities, Inc., Summerville, South Carolina;
Material:	50,000 feet of 30" Class 150 Fastite® and Flex-Ring®
Division C - 20-Inch Water Main
Engineer:	Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung, Savannah, Georgia
Contractor:	Triangle Construction Company, Savannah, Georgia;
Material:	12,000 feet of 20" Class 250 Fastite® and Flex-Ring®
Stuart Point Road
Engineer:	Jordan, Jones and Goulding, Charleston, South Carolina
Contractor:	Southern-Champion, Tucker, Georgia;
Material:	27,000 feet of 16" Class 250 Fastite®
Sales Representatives:	Charles Bartholomew and John Walsh
Customer Service Representative:	Marty Sanford
Drafters:	Bill Higginbotham, Dennis Wilson

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