AMESBURY — Water and sewer bills are expected to rise in the coming weeks, primarily to pay for substantial improvements to the town's water treatment plant.
The proposed rate increases will bring water use rates to $5.95 per 100 cubic feet and sewer rates to $5.90 per 100 cubic feet — a 14 percent increase in water rates and a 5 percent increase in sewer rates.
The effect on residents' water and sewer bills will fluctuate, depending on usage. For a single individual, rates will increase less, while a family of four will see a more significant change in their bill.
"The folks who use minimal water will see an increase of $32 per year. That's for both water and sewer," Mayor Thatcher Kezer said. "For typical usage, which is about 3,000 cubic feet, bills will increase $64 per year."
A public hearing on the new rates is scheduled for next week. If approved, the new rates would go into effect starting next year.
Town officials have been stating for over a year that increases will be needed to pay for the $18.3 million water treatment plant.
"I've been saying all along that we need to make periodic rate adjustments in anticipation, before the debt service hits. The earlier we start doing this, the less of an increase we'll need to cover debt service costs. This is simply building up the account in advance," Kezer said.
Amesbury's water and sewer rates were raised last winter as the first of multiple increases. At the time, water rates increased 15 percent and sewer rates increased 11 percent.
Some 16.5 percent of the plant costs will be paid for by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the remainder will come from the taxpayers through the issuance of a bond.
A 2009 independent study by the engineering firm Tighe and Bond ranked Amesbury 23rd highest in the state for rates.
While Amesbury bases its average usage estimates on a household using 3,000 cubic feet, Tighe and Bond's findings are based on a typical usage of 12,000 cubic feet, which the firm argues is more characteristic of a family of four. For a household that uses 12,000 cubic feet, the Amesbury bill will see an increase of $256.
The public hearing on the proposed water and sewer rate increases will be held Thursday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium.
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