Water Rates Are Going Up

At its October 20 meeting in Waterford, the Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority (SCWA) voted to approve a 5 percent increase in water rates to take effect on November 1. An additional 3 percent increase will go into effect on March 1, 2012. The rate hike was approved unanimously.

So what does that mean to the average customer?

According to industry standards, the average household uses 18,000 gallons of water a quarter.  As it happens, SCWA customers typically use less than that, averaging about 16,000 gallons per quarter.  

If you fall into the higher use category, you can expect your bill to go up from $133.55 to $140.27 on November 1 and up to $144.47 on March 1.

Customers who use 16,000 gallons of water a quarter can expect their bill to go up from $122.65 to $135.59 on November 1, and it’s going to increase to $139.65 in March.

Although the SCWA says it has tried hard to contain costs, this fiscal year it was operating at a loss of $75,450, and it projects an operating loss of $49,800 next fiscal year if rates aren’t increased.  

“We project that without the rate increase, we’ll be in the hole for $50,000 this fiscal year,” said SCWA General Manager Gregory C. Leonard. The impact of that, in terms of the authority’s ability to maintain services, he added, would be “severe.”  

If customers were outraged about the proposed increase, few showed it. Only two people attended a public hearing on the increase held in August at the Public Library in Ledyard, and both of them were members of Council of Government who were mostly interested in learning more about the inner workings of the SCWA. No member of the public attended the recent Waterford meeting.

Indeed, for the most part, SCWA customers seem to be pretty satisfied. Leonard said the authority is still receiving thank you calls and notes, and even a few baked goods, from customers who were grateful that they didn’t lose water during Tropical Storm Irene.

Although only one of SCWA’s 16 water systems had commercial power during the power outages caused by the storm, the authority managed to keep the other 15 running with generators so that none of its customers lost service.

Here’s a look at who will be affected by the increase

In Montville

424 customers in Montville Manor, Oakdale

360 customers, Mohegan Hill area, Uncasville

39 customers, Birchwood Condominiums, Uncasville

10 customers, Seven Oaks, Oakdale

131 customers, Chesterfield Hills, Country Estates, Uncasville

98 customers, Robin Estates, Uncasville

188 customers, Hillcrest, Uncasville

In Ledyard

803 customers in the Pheasant Run, Christy Hills, Sherwood Forest and Prudential Estates of Gales Ferry, includes Ledyard Elderly Housing

83 customers, Ferry View Heights subdivision, Gales Ferry

75 customers, Barrett Park

41 customers, Chriswood subdivision

118 customers, Gray Farms subdivision, includes Parsonage Hill Manor

35 customers, Ledyard Center System

In North Stonington

232 customers, Kingswood Park, includes Holly Green Commercial Condos and North Stonington Schools

123 customers, Cedar Ridge, North Stonington

In Stonington

23 customers, Lantern Hills Homes, Mystic