Orangeburg’s Department of Public Utilities has issued a number of boil water advisories following water main breaks in recent weeks.
"Generally speaking, as cold weather moves in, we see an increase in water main breaks as well as service line leaks," DPU spokesman Randy Etters said.
"In an abundance of caution, DPU made an operational decision several years ago to issue these advisories, even under conditions that would normally not be required,” by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, he said.
The advisories are lifted after the pipe is fixed and the water has been tested.
Notices are often issued through local media outlets when repairs to a pipe are needed that will impact more than 50 customers.
Etters said boil water advisories are issued any time the pressure in a water main drops below 10 pounds per square inch.
DPU has $600,000 allocated in its budget this year to replace approximately two miles of aging pipe, Etters said.
to keep our system operating at the best we possibly can for our customers," he said.
Etters said the utility does take steps to help lessen the need for boil water advisories.
"As long as there is positive pressure inside the pipe, this keeps contamination from entering the water main."