BELLOWS FALLS — Village Trustees have approved rate hikes in response to a decline in water use.
The decline has affected the flow of money to municipal coffers, according to a recent report to Village Trustees by civil and environmental engineer Joe Duncan.
“The trend over the past few years shows a decline in water usage,” said Duncan, an engineer with Forcier Aldrich and Associates of Essex Junction. “This affects both water and sewer revenue.”
The flow capacity has recently been measured at 30 percent for both water and sewer.
When asked why water usage had fallen, Duncan replied, “It has been a very wet year, so people are not watering their lawns.”
Trustee Leslie White noted that a decline in school enrollment indicates an overall population decline as well, leaving fewer people using the system.
The declining economy could also be a factor, he said.
Duncan presented a rate analysis and comparison chart for various base rate charges.
Duncan suggested that Trustees approve a base rate charge increase of $20 per year for water and $34-$40 per year for sewer. This increase would help offset the decline in usage.
“It seem people are being penalized for conserving water,” observed one citizen, Andrew Smith.
Smith asked if the rates could be structured to reward users instead. Duncan said a tiered structure could be implemented.
Another citizen, Sam Haskins, asked how commercial property would be affected. Duncan advised base water rates would increase $20-$40 per year and sewer base rates $40-$80 per year.