Overflows push up sewer rates
Let the climb begin.
Residential sewer rates will likely increase 15 percent in October, or about $2.70 a month for the average St. Joseph household. Those double-digit increases will continue for at least five years, during which time rates will compound to nearly double what they are now.
“This is serious rate-increase time,” Craig Brown, the city’s sewer rate consultant from Black & Veatch, told City Council members Monday. “I don’t want to hide it.”
City sewer costs are included in water bills from Missouri American Water. The city pays Missouri American to handle the sewer billings, which are based on winter water usage.
This year is the first time the costs of reducing St. Joseph’s combined sewer overflows will translate into actual dollars for sewer customers. The total overflow costs could be anywhere from $120 million to $450 million in the next 20 to 120 years, depending on projects and time lines ultimately approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“I probably shouldn’t even ask this, but we don’t think the EPA’s going to come to their senses?” Councilman Mike Hirter said hopefully.
Responded city Public Works Director Bruce Woody: “It’s my impression that they’re taking things pretty seriously.”
In the next five years, the city plans to spend $69.5 million on overflows.
The city could have prolonged the agony for another year and only increased rates by 4 percent this year. But that would’ve spelled a 20 percent increase in 2009, Mr. Brown said.
“I think it would be short-sighted to go with the smallest increase and then have a big increase next year,” said Councilman Mike Bozarth.
For all customers, sewer rates will actually only increase 12 percent. That number is lower because it factors in a 4 percent increase for the South St. Joseph Industrial Sewer District, which includes industries like Triumph Foods and Prime Tanning that pretreat and pump their sewage directly to the city’s treatment plant.
All other residential and retail customers will see a 15 percent increase.
The council will hold a formal public hearing regarding the sewer rates during its meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at City Hall.
Joe Blumberg can be reached
at joeblumberg@npgco.com.
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I have watched my water and sewer bill has almost doubled, last year it was about $56.00 a month, this month for the same water usage it is $105.00. That is more than 12%. My sewer bill is the same as my water bill. When did this happen? I hope these sewers are great because we are going to have to cut something to pay for them.
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