City water rates could be going up

City sewer and water rates could be going up, but how much they’ll go up will largely depend on what steps the city needs to take to improve its water system in the coming months.

The city hasn’t had a water rate increase in about 14 years. The average homeowner bill for sewer and water is about $51, city manager Susan Nicosia told council last week. Commercial users pay more.

The city has contracted out Robert Peccia and Associates to examine its water system, while HDR engineering is examining the sewer system.

The city council will hold a workshop session on March 12 at city hall to dive into reports on the water project first. The city’s water supply comes from two wells that pump the water up to a holding tank near Cedar Creek Reservoir.

The water then flows back down into the city.

The city has excellent water — it does not require chlorination. RPA has surveyed the city main water line from the holding tank and has found no major evidence of leaks as it runs through the woods. But the city is losing water — by the millions of gallons.

The city did a $750,000 water project a few years ago, where it replaced water lines in multiple locations, but it still has leaks elsewhere in the system.

Problem is, the soils in town are gravel, so when there is a leak, it rarely bubbles up to the surface, it just percolates back into the groundwater, forever lost.

First and foremost, the city plans on an aggressive leak detection effort to find where the water is going. But it’s also considering adding a third well, and that’s where a major cost would come in.

The city won’t pursue state Treasure State Endowment Program grants for a project, though it may pursue other state and federal grants. The city wouldn’t qualify for TSEP grants, Nicosia noted — water bills are too low and the city’s water supply isn’t in dire straights. Based on average household income, the city would have to have water rates at about $73 per month or more to qualify for state grants.

After the council hears from engineers, they’ll likely make a decision on a project in April, with public hearings on final water rates.

The sewer system is also needing upgrades, but that project is penciling out at a lower cost — about $500,000, Nicosia noted.