The Select Board Monday approved water and sewer rates for the new fiscal year representing a combined average increase of a little more than 1 percent.
The board accepted recommendations from the public works and finance directors for a 2 percent increase for water and one-half percent for sewer.
Last year the combined average rates actually decreased by one-half percent, and for fiscal 2020 the combined impact was 1.1 percent higher, the same increase approved Monday for the current year.
DPW Director David Manugian explained that the recommendations are based on “costs to run the system.” That primarily means rates set by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority for water purchase and sewage disposal.
There is actually a three-tiered local rate structure for residential water use, all with a base charge of $35. The first 2,000 cubic feet are billed at $1.80 per 100 cubic feet (equivalent to about 750 gallons). The recommendation was to leave this rate unchanged, considering the financial challenges many residents confronted during the past pandemic year.
Use beyond that ceiling is charged $9.90 per 100 cubic feet. In addition, water for outside irrigation metered separately is charged $11.30 per hundred cubic feet.
Basic sewer charge is $45 for the year, with rates of $2.20 per 100 cubic feet up to 2,000, and $13.70 per 100 cubic feet beyond.
The goal on paper is to break even, Manugian said.
Town Manager Sarah Stanton mentioned that MWRA rates were set lower than estimates used in the budget approved at town meeting. A reduced number will be presented to the special town meeting scheduled for Nov. 1.
Asked by Select Board member William Moonan about the impact of new residential water meters that were recently installed, Manugian said this will “give us more control of the granularity of the information” and also facilitate conversion to quarterly billing.
The sewer charge, which essentially reflects the volume recorded for water use (except for irrigation meters), was also affected by a slight decline in debt service.
Select Board member Emily Mitchell wondered whether state assistance could ever be expected since the town has closed its wellfield because of concerns about the chemicals known as PFAS. Stanton was doubtful, since the issue is fast becoming ubiquitous among municipal water sources.
The wells, off Shawsheen Road, supplied about 15 percent of the town’s demand.
Asked why irrigation rates are higher, Manugian said the outdoor water use places specific demands on the system’s capacity at certain times of the day, resulting in some additional costs.
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
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