Cleaner river means rate hike likely in West Columbia

Meeting federal demands to minimize sewage spills into the Congaree River probably means slightly higher utility bills soon for residents of West Columbia and surrounding areas, city officials say.

The prediction comes as city officials borrow $9 million for improvements intended to lessen pollution that the spills create in the river flowing on the east edge of the community of 15,000 people.

“I think there’s going to be a small rate increase,” City Administrator Jennifer Cunningham said.

The amount won’t be known until consultants complete a study this fall outlining ways to spread the cost of the project among 19,500 homes and businesses served by the Lexington County municipality.

Those recommendations will go to City Council, whose nine members have the final say on the amount and when any increase starts. Typically, raises are more for neighborhoods outside the community since residents there don’t pay city taxes.

Any increase adopted will be kept as low as possible, Mayor Joe Owens said. It will pay for the loan city officials took out to finance their share of improvements at a facility in neighboring Columbia that has handled sewage disposal jointly for 40 years.

“When our costs go up, obviously we have to raise prices,” Council Chairman B.J. Unthank said. “It’s still very affordable and we want to keep it that way.”

The last water and sewer rate increase for areas served by West Columbia occurred last year, adding up to $5.50 to the monthly bill of the average homeowner. It was the first raise since 2010.

West Columbia sends an average of up to 3.25 million gallon of sewage daily to Columbia for disposal.

It must chip in for improvements since Columbia is under court order to end spills into the river from its outdated sewage system. Columbia must make changes during the next 10 years that will cost about $750 million under an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.