New Water and Sewer Rate
You see these funds in action in projects such as replacing water mains and inspecting, replacing and/or relining our combined sewer infrastructure. In the past few years, there has been another large factor driving our water and sewer rate: the state of Michigan’s unfunded mandate to remove all lead water lines from our system. This requirement to replace all lead service lines between the meter inside a home and our main pipe in the ground in front of the home is very costly.
In preparation for each new fiscal year, the City Council and administration consider these incoming costs and the Council sets an appropriate rate to adequately fund all operations and enhancements for our system. Starting July 1, customers will see the new rate of $10.21 per unit on their next quarterly water and sewer invoice – an increase of 93 cents (or about 10%) per every 748 gallons of water that passes through a home’s water meter.
Over the past several years, the City has absorbed increasing costs to operate and maintain the water and sewer systems, only modestly raising the rate for these services. This year is no different, with the rate increase limited at 10% to keep costs to our community as low as possible and revenues projected to fall short of covering the entire cost of expected expenditures for the upcoming year. Water and sewer charges should generate enough funds to cover wholesale obligations, debt service, operating costs, equipment and future capital improvements.
We’re proud to provide safe and reliable water and transportation/treatment of sewer while continuing to offer competitive rates for municipal utilities.
For more information about our water and sewer services, rates and what’s covered in our costs, click here.