Greenfield’s water, sewer rates to increase on Jan. 1
Published: 07-04-2024 9:42 AM |
GREENFIELD — In an effort to keep up with the rising costs of maintaining the city’s water and sewer infrastructure, water and sewer rates will increase by 8.75% and 9.77%, respectively, on Jan. 1.
Currently, the city’s Department of Public Works charges $4 per 100 cubic feet for water and, for sewer service, $6.65 per 100 cubic feet. Next year, the city will raise the water rate to $4.35 per 100 cubic feet and the sewer cost to $7.30 per 100 cubic feet.
DPW Director Marlo Warner II said the money collected for water and sewer infrastructure, which will go toward the DPW’s Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund, will be used for regular maintenance and capital projects, with some being set aside for emergencies or unforeseen events.
Warner named significant increases in the costs of materials and supplies related to water treatment and sewage maintenance as a primary reason for the rate increase. He explained that in the last two years, the costs of chemicals used to treat water and sewage has increased by roughly 40%.
The rate increases, Warner added, will also help fund infrastructure repairs such as those resulting from burst pipes, as well as capital projects, such as the city’s ongoing effort to mitigate inflow and infiltration, a process in which groundwater runs into the city’s sewer system and overwhelms the water treatment plant.
“We’re treating water that should be going out the stormwater system, to the rivers so on and so forth, but it’s getting into our sewer system,” Warner explained.
While working toward compliance with a consent order from the state Department of Environmental Protection that mandates the city curb its inflow and infiltration, Warner said the DPW will use flow monitoring devices to track water flow levels within the sewer system. He said the DPW also plans to hire a company that will run cameras through the pipes in search of groundwater leakage points or illicit connections.
“We do our best every year to deter increases, or substantial increases. We review budgets, we review everything from year to year trying to keep the cost down for ratepayers,” Warner said. “When we have increases to material supplies, salaries, as part of the operating budgets to water and sewer, the utility pays for this particular budget. So you do have to increase to meet both regulatory and mandated requirements — another reason why these increases are necessary.”
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Mayor Ginny Desorgher, in a written statement, similarly mentioned that the rate increases will help fund work to repair infrastructure during extreme weather events.
“Increases are never easy to announce, but this is a necessary change to support our DPW’s operating budget,” Desorgher said. “Franklin County has recently experienced an influx of weather-related emergencies. It is imperative that our city is well-equipped to address any unexpected circumstance.”
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.