Cayce leaders know they must raise water and sewer rates soon. The question is: How much?

City Council likely will decide on new rates Tuesday night. The cost of expanding the city’s sewer plant, which treats waste from much of eastern Lexington County, plus other improvements needed in the system, makes higher rates virtually unavoidable.

Now, the decision involves how much of the costs residential customers should carry and what is fair for businesses to pay.

Five-year figures. A private consulting firm hired by Cayce to study the situation recommended nearly doubling the average water and sewer bill for city residents during the next five years.

Residential customers in Cayce pay an average of $25 every two months. Under the proposed rates, the average customer would pay about $50 every two months after gradual increases during the next five years.

But council members rejected the firm’s recommendation last week, and discussed placing more of the burden on commercial users.

Mayor Avery Wilkerson and Councilman Jim Sexton both proposed higher commercial rates, shielding some of the costs from homeowners.

“They’re (large businesses) getting discounted pretty heavily anyway,” Sexton said. “I’m still concerned about our senior citizens on fixed incomes.”

Rates for out-of-town customers are twice the amount of those for in-city customers, said City Manager Rachel Scioscia.

Wanting to expand. Cayce wants to expand its sewer plant to allow more commercial growth into the city, especially along Interstate 77 once the new 12th Street Extension is completed, linking Cayce with the beltway.

The sewer expansion also is needed to keep up with growth inside the city, Scioscia said.

Plus, Cayce must make changes to its water plant to keep up with demand and meet government regulations, Scioscia said.

The price tag for all the projects combined is about $18 million, and most of that would need to be financed.

The city is the designated sewer provider for much of the well-populated area outside the city limits.

Cayce’s major new sewer customer is the town of Lexington, which is building its own large sewer system between U.S. 1 and U.S. 378 near Interstate 20.

Lexington would pump its waste to Cayce’s newly expanded treatment plant, keeping discharged water from flowing into the Lower Saluda River, helping to pay millions toward Cayce’s sewer plant and lines.

Even though Cayce customers likely will see higher rates in the coming years, their bills will remain among the Columbia area’s lowest.

Compare average two-month water and sewer bills for residential customers: Cayce $25, West Columbia $24, Lexington $68, Columbia $44, Lexington County Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission $90, Chapin $84 and Lugoff- Elgin $93. The local average is $67.

Alan Richard covers Cayce, West Columbia and communities in southern Lexington County. Call him at 771-8315 or fax to 771-8430.