Congaree Riverkeeper and Blue Granite Water Company  announced the approval of a settlement agreement, Tuesday. The case was in he US District Court of South Carolina and resolves the years of litigation over the I-20 wastewater system.

In furtherance of future water resource monitoring and planning in the Midlands, CRK and Blue Granite have agreed that Blue Granite will donate to the Central Midlands Council of Governments the sum of $350,000 to be used for the following purposes:

• $250,000 to support water quality monitoring initiatives of the Midlands Rivers Coalition;
and

• $100,000 to support the CMCOG’s revisions to, and implementation of, its Water Quality Management Plan.

In addition, Blue Granite has agreed to pay the Southern Environmental Law Center the sum of
$385,000 for attorneys’ fees incurred by SELC, as well as $23,000 to the United States Treasury.

The parties, according to a press release,  maintain the merits of their respective legal positions, CRK and Blue Granite have determined that the agreement is desirable at this time to finally and completely resolve the case in the best interests of each party, Blue Granite’s customers, and the public.

“We are pleased to reach this agreement with Blue Granite and believe it will help our efforts to
improve water quality in the Saluda River for many years to come,” said the Congaree Riverkeeper, Bill
Stangler.

“Blue Granite seeks to provide local water and wastewater service that supports vibrant communities,
and we believe the Agreement with CRK is an important step in supporting our customers and
communities in the Midlands,” stated Michael Cartin, Blue Granite’s Director of External Affairs.

CRK and Blue Granite look forward to working together on future water quality management efforts,
including Blue Granite’s current efforts to interconnect its Watergate Wastewater Treatment Facility to
the Town of Lexington.
To learn more about CRK, visit www.congareeriverkeeper.org or Blue Granite, visit
www.bluegranitewaterco.com.