York County takes on troubled Lake Wylie water system. Bill relief questions remain
Allison Love fought back tears Tuesday night to read a letter in front of her fellow York County Council members.
It was a utility notice.
“Sometimes — sometimes — great things happen to those of us who sit up here,” Love said. “And to the people we represent.”
York County now owns the water utility system based in Lake Wylie, formerly run by Blue Granite Water Company. Blue Granite previously was Carolina Water Service. Lake Wylie residents, business owners and community leaders have called for change to the utility dating back close to two decades.
“It’s very important, and a lot of time and effort has gone into being able to send this letter out,” Love said.
The letter going out this week to impacted customers in Lake Wylie explains details of a transition. It informs customers how to sign up for payment options and what to expect as they join the county water and sewer system. It doesn’t outline a new rate structure. Initial bills will be for the final service they’ve already used, under the Blue Granite system and rate structure.
Tuesday’s acquisition of the system completes one of Love’s earliest goals when she joined the council in 2017.
“This is a huge check mark for me,” Love said, “and the 4,500 residences that are on Blue Granite water.”
High water bills, quality concern
Carolina Water or Blue Granite often asked for rate increases every other year. Each adjustment case prompted review by the state Public Service Commission. Those reviews involved public hearings, where hundreds of Lake Wylie residents and business owners turned out with complaints about high cost, poor water quality and customer service.
Making changes became a focal point for multiple county managers, District 2 council representatives, state reps and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, a Republican whose district includes the Lake Wylie area.
Norman and other officials increased the call for change in early 2016, ahead of the expiration of Carolina Water’s franchise agreement with the county the following year. County leadership at the time said it would be costly to upgrade the system customers complained was failing already and provide water on the county system.
Ultimately, the county extended a franchise agreement with increased performance standards for the utility.
Work continued, but last fall the county announced it planned to condemn the Blue Granite system. That decision would impact about 4,000 customers, or about 10,000 people. The estimated cost for the county to take over the system was $36 million.
Cost for water
Longtime Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce President Susan Bromfield hears water complaints from residents and businesses. In the COVID-19 age, complaints largely shifted from massive public hearings in front of state regulators to Facebook posts and virtual complaints. Yet, the issues are largely the same.
“I don’t think people ever get used to the water bills out here,” Bromfield said.
Blue Granite provided water it got from York County, which first came from Rock Hill. Each new step affected price. Bromfield said there are two people and a cat in her home, and they don’t water the lawn. Water is $120 to $140 a month. It was closer to $180 during the holidays.
Lake Wylie Business Center has a bill at more than $2,000 a month. There’s no outdoor irrigation. The biggest water use there are small bathrooms.
“I see people post frustration on Facebook when they get a $200, $300 or even $400 water bill at their homes,” Bromfield said. “Watering outside is just not reasonable.”
Chamber of Commerce businesses, Bromfield said, report their water bills at times are higher than power bills. While Bromfield welcomes the latest change, many of the same concerns exist. The cost to improve the system, plus county costs to acquire it, will be passed on to the same customers.
Work in recent months has been contractual, meaning the county hasn’t released full details on long-term costs changes for customers.
“Some people think it is fabulous, and may think they will see bills reduced right away,” Bromfield said. “Some are skeptics and wonder about the unknowns.”
What Lake Wylie customers will get is a provider with plenty of experience. The county water and sewer system buys water from Rock Hill and serves more than 10,000 retail customers. The county also provided wholesale service to Blue Granite, a similar setup to what’s in place with the City of York.
This story was originally published January 18, 2023 at 1:02 PM.
