Sonoco officials say there is no danger of the Hartsville dam overtopping.
According to a press release from Sonoco on Wednesday, water levels on Prestwood Lake and Black Creek in Hartsville “continue to recede and there is no danger of the Sonoco’s dam in Hartsville overtopping.”
“Contrary to some earlier reports, the Sonoco dam on Black Creek in Hartsville never overtopped the embankment during the unprecedented flooding caused by Hurricane Florence,” states the release. Water flows from the dam are back to “near normal operating ranges,” but the creek remains “out of its banks” at the Sonoco Hartsville Manufacturing Plant.
“Based on current assessments, Sonoco believes there is no threat of additional flooding to the Hartsville area, and water levels on the Black Creek continue to lessen, which should help to mitigate the potential for further flooding downstream,” the release also states.
Sonoco, and Duke Energy’s Lake Robinson operations, have been in communication with Darlington County, City of Hartsville, and state officials “to assure the safety of county residents in the Black Creek watershed before and after Hurricane Florence came through the Pee Dee region of South Carolina,” according to the release. “While water levels are receding, all parties are continuing to monitor water flows along Black Creek through the weekend and updates will be provided as necessary.”
