Photo by Bill Bittar
Appointed/volunteer WPCA members (left to right) Kelly Curtis and Robert Miani, who acted as chairman for Jack Walsh, who is recovering from surgery. At far right is Marcy McGuire, the WPCA coordinator.
DERBY — The city’s Water Pollution Control Authority voted to raise sewer rates after a public hearing Wednesday.
Only two people were in the audience for the 6:30 p.m. public hearing. Neither addressed the authority.
The increase will add about $30 to $37 to the typical residential sewer bill. The WPCA adopted a new, $2.8 million budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.
Residents should also remember they will continue to pay the annual $257 capital fee h connected to the $31.2 million sewer repair referendum approved by voters in 2014.
Edd Abel, the acting WPCA superintendent, said sewer usage has been decreasing by almost 10 percent a year due to two nursing homes moving out of the city, more conscious consumers, and more efficient toilets.
That means less revenue coming in, while the costs to staff, operate and maintain the sewer system increase. To make up a $280,000 shortfall, Abel said over $237,000 will be taken out of reserves and the rest will be funded with the higher rates.
Abel said the WPCA will have about $2.2 million left in reserve, almost equal to the operating budget. Click here for a previous story.
Right now residential properties connected to the sewer system pay a per unit fee of $250, plus a consumption rate of 74 cents per gallon/per day/per year.
Under the new budget, the per unit fee increases to $275. The new consumption rate will be 80 cents.
To calculate a water bill for a single-family house, one must know the total usage for the fiscal year (which is on your most recent WPCA bill), divide the total usage by 365 days, and then multiply the result by the consumption rate. Finally, add your result to the annual flat rate.
Example: under the current fee structure, a single-family house in Derby that used 74,056 gallons of water received a WPCA bill of about $400 in the current fiscal year (plus the separate $257 bill connected to the 2014 referendum).
Under the new fee and rate structure, that bill will increase by about $37 next year, totaling $437 (assuming water use remains the same).
The rate for commercial and industrial users is increasing, too. The current consumption rate of $3.66 is going to $4. The current minimum charge of $250 is going to $275 under the proposed budget.
Mixed-use properties currently pay a consumption rate of $3.66 plus a flat fee of $250 per unit. Those numbers are increasing to $4 and $275, according to WPCA documents.
The new charges will be payable in two installments: Sept. 1 and March 1 and payments must be made within 30 days of the billing date.
