Town water rates going up

Town of Amherst water and sewer rates increased under a three-year hike that began as of July 1, the result of less use by high-volume customers and drought restrictions, among other things.

The increases will make up for the lower water use, help the town catch up with increased operating costs and will enable the town to replace aging facilities, said Town Manager Jack Hobbs.

“It’s not going to get any cheaper,” Hobbs said.

How much are rates increasing? Customers who use 5,000 gallons per month are paying about $5 a month more than last year.

The town rate is cheaper than Amherst County’s rate, which also has proposed an increase.

At a rate of 5,000 gallons per month, town water-sewer rates increased from $44.60 during the 2007-08 fiscal year to $49.50 in the 2008-09 fiscal year, which became effective July 1. Customers now have received the higher bills. The cost in 2006-07 was $42.10.

The rates will increase up to $60.50 by the 2010-11 fiscal year, according to town figures. The residential base charge will remain at $6 per month for water and will increase from $12 to $18 per year for sewer through the three years. Not all city residents are connected to the Town sewage system.

The new town rates are cheaper than rates in the county, which has proposed an increase from $51.28 per month to $55.59 at the 5,000 gallons per month benchmark. A public hearing on county rates is scheduled for Oct. 21.

The town “sold” 3.7 percent fewer gallons of water last year than the year before –– that is, less water passed through customers’ water meters –– and revenue increased 0.03 percent, according to town figures.

“We believe the discrepancy can be explained by drought restrictions, which mandated that users stop using Town water for lawn sprinklers, car washing, swimming pool usage” and so forth, Hobbs wrote. Also, lower-flow fixtures such as showerheads and smaller toilet tanks contributed to less use, as did significantly lower water use by high-volume customers, according to Hobbs.

The town handled 6.2 percent less sewer gallons last year than the year before, and sewer rate revenue decreased 11 percent.

Residential customers are using more sewer gallons but commercial and wholesale customers such as Sweet Briar College are using less.

Even with the rate increases, the town “there will still probably not be enough funds available” to pay for line replacements to keep up with the town’s aging water and sewer systems. The Town is studying which projects to handle first and how to keep up with replacement needs, Hobbs said.

Other cities nationwide are doing the same thing, he said –– how to replace or upgrade facilities.

The water-sewer increase also will help pay for construction during this fiscal year. One of the projects is a main line sewer line replacement, which could cost up to $300,000.

The Town Council meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall water supply topics; to discuss when banners should be hung over South Main Street; and South Main Street landscape maintenance.