Despite a 5.5 percent water rate increase, given first reading approval Tuesday by Orangeburg City Council, the Department of Public Utilities still provides customers with one of the best bargains in the state.

"Our water is a very good deal for our citizens and we want to get that word out," said DPU Manager Fred Boatwright.

DPU water rates average about $9 a month, compared with $15 a month statewide.

As recommended during budget discussions last year, the 5.5 percent across-the-board increase will mean an increase of about 48 cents a month for city residential customers and an increase of about 86 cents a month for those outside the city. That, Boatwright said, is based on the normal residential use of 6,000 gallons a day.

For commercial customers, the tier break is increasing from 30,000 to 50,000 cubic feet per month.

According to Boatwright, the increase in water rates is due to the increase cost of producing water, including labor and chemicals. And, he said, "government regulations add dollars every day, every time you turn around."

The vote for first reading was 5-0-1. Councilman Bernard Haire abstained and Councilwoman Sandra Knotts did not attend the session.

After a public hearing and two more ordinance readings, the new rates are scheduled to go into effect July 7.

In other business, also pertaining to DPU, council passed two separate resolutions approving bids for major water and wastewater projects.

The low responsible bid of $14,924,000 from Thamer Construction of Atlanta is for the John F. Pearson Water Treatment Plant Extension, described by Boatwright as the "largest construction in DPU history."

The 10-million-gallon-per-day addition will increase capacity from 19 million gallons per day to about 30 million gallons.

Asked how long the expansion will meet the needs of the future, Boatwright said the best guess is 10 years.

"It depends on how quickly we grow," he said. "Historically, we add on every 10 years."

The $848,020 low responsible bid, from G.H. Smith Construction Inc. of Lexington is for a 30-inch sewer line along Woodbine Drive.

According to Boatwright, the bid is slightly (10.8 percent) over budget estimations, due primarily to the increase in the cost of the petroleum-based PVC material. It's a "reasonable price," he said.

Covering a large geographic area along Woodbine Drive from Rowesville Road to almost U.S. Highway 301, the line will tie into the county's capital sales tax Whitaker Park sewer project. Also, the addition of 1,500 linear feet will allow DPU to serve an additional subdivision at the end of the street.

In other business, council.

-- Received as information, a response from the South Carolina Department of Transportation to the city's request concerning traffic problems at Goff and Railroad Avenue.

Council, in turn, asked that the administrator re-address the issue with DOT.

Although DOT determined that a signal is not warranted at Goff and U.S. Highway 601, improvements were made to the curve and pedestrian crosswalk, with continued monitoring.

Arguing that the problem is speed at the curve, Councilman Trelvis Miller asked that DOT consider safety mechanisms at the curve, such as speed bumps.

-- Gave final third reading to an ordinance approving a settlement agreement between the city and BellSouth. A compromise settlement, concerning disputed franchise fees, was reached in the matter before the Public Service Commission.

-- Also, as part of the settlement agreement with BellSouth, gave final third reading to an ordinance to repeal the one-year franchise extension.

-- Reappointed John Yow and appointed Howette Davis to the second Orangeburg County Capital Project Sales Tax Commission.

-- Accepted the Department of Public Safety's second Drug Control and System Improvement Program Grant, in the amount of $58,487. The city's 25 percent match of $19,496 has been budgeted.

The grant provides a fulltime forensic drug lab position for testing and confirming evidence for court.

-- Recognized Cpl. Aqkwele Robinson as the state's Crime Prevention Officer of the Year.

-- Conducted the presentation of the character trait "perseverance" to the city's departments of public works, service and parks. Mary Hudson of Orangeburg National Bank made the presentation.

-- Proclaimed "responsibility" as the character trait for June.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by calling 803-533-5545.

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