Stonington Water Pollution Control Authority proposes 10 percent hike in sewer rates
Stonington — The Water Pollution Control Authority is proposing to increase sewer use rates by 10 percent to offset rising costs, such as those for electricity.
The authority will hold a public hearing on the proposed increase at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 in the police station community room.
Effective Nov. 1, the authority is proposing to increase the sewer use charge to $5.84, or 53 cents for each 100 cubic feet of water used, according to meter measurement from the Aquarion and Westerly Water companies or, in the case of private water supplies, measurement provided by meters to measure water use. The current rate is $5.31.
The proposal also would implement interim rate changes to adjust for water used before and subsequent to the Nov. 1 rate change.
For Stonington, users will be charged $5.40 per 100 cubic feet of water used from June 1 to Nov. 30, Mystic customers will be billed $5.58 from Aug.1, 2019, to Jan. 31, 2020, and Pawcatuck customers will be charged $5.75 from Oct. 1, 2019, to March 30, 2020.
The authority bill users in the three different sections of town on a staggered basis every six months. The minimal bill for any user would be $45.62.
WPCA Director Douglas Nettleton said the authority is facing a $500,000 deficit due to rising electricity costs needed to run three treatment plants and numerous pump stations.
Up until four years ago, the authority had not raised rates for eight straight years. Then came two years with 5 percent hikes each year followed by a 7 percent increase.
If the authority approves the 10 percent hike, there would have been a 27 percent increase over 12 years, for an average increase of 2.25 percent a year.
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