Browns Ferry Water Company is coming back.

That was the message given to residents who attended a recent community meeting with the Browns Ferry Water Board.

The board said there are still some problems to be overcome, such as battling through financial difficulties and legal problems.

The water service, however, has come out of receivership, said board member Florene Linnen. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control ordered the company to receive help with its operations due to constant problems with water quality.

The new directors have gotten a clean audit of the company's recent finances, although at least seven years worth of financial data remains missing.

The new board is now working to revise the company bylaws, so the power of running the company rests with the customers, said Board Chairman Glen Wilson.

"This is your company,'' Wilson said. "We are here to serve you.''

Other obstacles

The company still has little inventory, Wilson said.

The company has two trucks, a backhoe and several generators.

A trencher that belongs to the company was recently found parked in another location, Wilson said.

The company's offices were recently found to be improperly constructed, so new space will have to be found to run the company.

"We might have to start from scratch,'' Wilson said.

Despite the problems, the residents said they were encouraged to hear that the company is still providing services to about 3,000 customers.

Across South Carolina, small water companies are struggling to survive, according to officials with the Rural Water Association.

"If we come together, we can do great things,'' said a Browns Ferry resident. "We need to stick together to make Browns Ferry a better community.''