Water plant bids run beyond estimate

Contractors interested in building the Lake Hartwell Water Treatment Plant have submitted bids that range between $17 million to nearly $21 million, and the low bid appears to be $3 million higher than the engineer estimated.  Eight contractors submitted sealed bids before this afternoon’s deadline.  Donald Phillips of Pioneer Rural Water’s consultant firm, Design South, told the contractor representatives that the bids will be tabulated and, once determined, the contractor with the official low bid will be so advised.  Afterward Phillips declined to say if he were disappointed that the Harper Corporation’s apparent low bid of $17 million exceeded what the project engineer had estimated for the total price.  For several years, Pioneer’s board has been planning a 2.5 million gallon a day treatment plant, to be located inside the county’s Golden Corner Commerce Park, with an intake at nearby Lake Hartwell.