GSWSA History

History

In the early 1970's, the founders of the Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority had a clear sense of purpose for the organization and a compelling vision of what the organization was to become. The purpose was to provide water and sewer services to the rapidly developing non-municipal area east of the Intracoastal Waterway in Horry County. The vision was to develop a comprehensive and coordinated water and sewer utility system on a countywide or regional basis to allow Horry County to grow and develop to its fullest potential.

This sense of purpose or mission and compelling vision led to the Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority in becoming a modern success story. From a utility with no assets, customers, or funding, in thirty-five years the GSWSA has grown into a company with assets over $500,000,000, over 60,000 customers, and annual revenues over $60,000,000.

From a limited service area east of the Intracoastal Waterway, the Authority has expanded to provide services reaching to the North Carolina line, into Georgetown County, and into the rural portion of the county west of the Waccamaw River.

In a county known as the 'Independent Republic' with six municipal water and sewer utilities and two public water companies, the GSWSA provides contractual services to each of these consolidating with the Town of Surfside Beach utility in 1994 and the Town of Aynor January 1, 1998. The development of the GSWSA has allowed Horry County to grow from a population of 70,000 in 1970 to over 225,000 today. GSWSA has approached the vision of its farsighted founders.

Mission

To provide water and sewer services to residents, visitors, businesses, communities, municipalities, and private utilities within Horry County. Services are provided to protect public health, protect the environment, and improve each customer’s quality of life.

Vision

The vision of the Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority is to have water and sewer services available to all areas of Horry County, to be the preferred provider of water and sewer services in the County, and to be the regional leader in quality and cost of water and sewer products and services.

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