NL Approves Water Rate Hikes For Waterford

Monday the New London City Council voted 4-2 to approve a set of rate hikes for water and sewer services, meaning higher water rates for Waterford residents.

Waterford runs its own sewers, so if New London increases its sewer rates, it doesn’t impact Waterford, Waterford Utility Commission Chief Engineer Neftali Soto said. However, New London runs Waterford’s water lines, so the council’s move will increase water rates for Waterford residents, Soto said.

Barry Weiner, chairman of the New London WWPCA, said the increases are necessary to maintain the system's infrastructure. He said rates will be retroactive to July 1, the start of the 2013 tax year.

Another item on Monday’s agenda sought to authorize the New London WWPCA to manage a request for proposals process for a forensic audit of the WWPCA. A vote to approve this failed 2-4.

The Increases To Waterford residents

The rates increase the charge for every 1,000 cubic feet of metered water service for Waterford residents from $17.83 to $19.61 for metered connections.

Other major changes include:

• Increasing the residential connection fee for structures not previously receiving water from the city from the product of residential units and $2,727 to the product of residential units and $3,049.
• Increasing the fee structure of non-residential connection buildings not previously receiving water from the city. These costs are based on the size of the meter and range from $3,409 for five-eighths of an inch (formerly $2,727) to $115,587 for 10 inches or more (formerly $92,469).
• The original connection fee for existing buildings was not less than $200 and not more than $350, although the fee would be the actual cost less $350 if the expense of providing the service was greater than $700. The revision states that the fee should not be less than $1,000 and not more than the actual cost of providing each connection.
• Increasing the charge for each public fire service connection in Waterford from $53.67 to $98.34.
• Increasing the fee for temporary use of water by contractors where the use of a meter is not practical from $24 to $300 for each day or portion of a day and from $84 to $1,500 for extended use each week.
• Increasing the reactivation expense paid by an offending party for water shutoff due to misrepresentation, misuse, or waste of water from two dollars to $100.
• Increasing the reactivation expense paid by an offending party for water shutoff due to nonpayment from $15 to $100.