Around the 1920's, the citizens of Laurens began to see the need for improving their utilities system.
A water treatment plant was the most pressing need, because at that time, water for Laurens' residents was obtained from wells, given minimal chemical treatment, and moved through the water mains by diesel-powered pumps.
To raise capital for the project, the citizens of Laurens separated the utilities system from the general city government, forming a Commission of Public Works. Thus, they created a revenue stream, separate from property taxes, to be used for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the utilities system.
In February of 1922, the South Carolina General Assembly enacted a law creating the Laurens Board of Commissioners of Public Works, thereby initiating the improvement and expansion of the utilities system.
Construction of the water plant began later that same year. In the 1950s, the citizens of Laurens established a municipally-owned natural gas system, the fourth utility in the combined system.
Around the 1920's, the citizens of Laurens began to see the need for improving their utilities system.
The Laurens CPW, just like all other CPWs, is a citizen-created, not-for-profit, locally-owned utility. That means its customers have access to and influence over the local utility boards and city councils that oversee utility policies. This is simply not the case with private utilities.
