Aiken Allocates $4 Million to Replace Water Lines in Crosland Park

Aiken plans to swap out over 10,000 linear feet of old water pipes in Crosland Park. The work costs $4 million. Half comes from Washington, half from the city.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham brought home $2 million in federal money this past February. Aiken will kick in the rest using Capital Project Sales Tax dollars.

The work tackles brown water troubles that hit residents last summer. Bedenbaugh said the pipes predate the subdivision. They go back to the early 1950s, installed during the Savannah River Plant boom.

"We know the lines here are mostly the older metal cast iron type lines, and they are older than the neighborhood," Bedenbaugh said to the Aiken Standard. "My understanding is these were lines that were transferred from a housing development in Georgia to here when the neighborhood was put in in the early 1950s."

Crews will tear out roughly 10,250 linear feet of pipe and swap 16 fire hydrants. They'll also add isolation valves, which are small devices that let workers fix breaks without shutting down water to whole blocks.

Engineers will start drawing up plans now. Contractors should bid on the job in late 2027 or early 2028.