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In Durham at least -- and IIRC, in Raleigh as well -- before the recent drought, our water costs were in the lowest 10% of the cities/counties in North Carolina. Durham, and other major cities, were keeping their utilities running but not investing in what's required for growth, nor in all cases for looming infrastructure costs.
Our state is growing fast, and that is going to bring with it a range of needs for water:
1) In Durham, and I think parts of Wake, cleanup of effluent point sources (sewage plants) so that the water discharged into the Neuse and Haw Rivers is not so high in nutrients, which impact the water quality of downstream communities. (Even with recent GOP intervention, the Jordan/Falls rules will eventually come back, and they will cost our communities billions with a B.)
2) Failing septic systems -- hey there, rural residents -- that are too close to the watershed will also need to be repaired/replaced. Durham estimates there are thousands of these in the Neuse basin. Homeowners will be responsible, but doubtlessly taxpayers will have to address some of them.
3) Additional water reservoirs -- Wake is supposed to add another water source, which is expensive. Hopefully people will be up in arms when they realize the higher expenses of compliance due to the growth being allowed around Rolesville, which was allowed to densify more than initially planned despite a new reservoir intended for the area.
4) Growing intake at water sources -- Western Wake just asked to add several more millions of gallons per day (mgd) from Jordan. At some point Raleigh will have to do the same. This can mean building new intakes plus larger or newer water treatment plants.
5) Water quality in Jordan/Falls. Separate from point sources, there are algae blooms some years in the lakes, and these have to be cleaned up, or there is greater cost (and chemicalization) of drinking water to accomplish this.
6) Replacing old water mains. In downtown/urban Durham areas, some of the water pipes are more than a century old and literally have crumbled when work was done to them. We've seen street after street dug up for water repairs and for pro-active maintenance to install new mains. This is very much NOT cheap work.
I spent a few weeks in China for work last year, and it says something when you can be in a Canadian-owned, five-star hotel brand (Fairmont) and told that water is only safe to bathe with, and you have to drink bottled water or boil water. That's year-round in one of the wealthiest parts of China.
Clean water is NOT something I take for granted or will take for granted. It is something we HAVE to pay for to continue to enjoy and to avoid kicking the can for our succeeding generations.
And, don't get me started on parking deck fees... again, communities borrow (bonds or other debt) to build or rehab and have to have revenue streams to pay the costs. In Durham, we have the same weekend costs now, but the alternative was increasing subsidies from property tax. If they did THAT, the argument would be that they shouldn't charge people who don't go downtown to park downtown. Saturnfan, you would be the first in line to say that.
Those who think that Raleigh's rates are high should go try out the private utility Aqua for a while. Bills from them can be more more than 3 times the bill you get from Raleigh.
Those who think that Raleigh's rates are high should go try out the private utility Aqua for a while. Bills from them can be more more than 3 times the bill you get from Raleigh.
Not high but we were lied to.
We were told the 155 was to make up for lost sales because of drought.
Drought ended. new people and businesses came to become customers.
Why were the increases not repealed? Let the new users pay for infrastructure or not come here. Same with businesses. no bribes. They can pay for the issues they cause coming to an already saturated area.
My water bill here in a more rural part of the county is....$0. My sewer bill is...$0. And all the 'citifolk' are afraid to have wells and sceptic sytems. Of course it cost a lot to put a system in ($15-40,000) and there is some maintenance, but at least we don't feel the need to complain over $1000 per year in water fees.
Exactly right. There really isn't much to a private water system. Septic system is the same way. Stay on top of preventive maintenance and there shouldn't be any issues. I absolutely love having my own water and septic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by smokijoo
A lot of folks in rural areas are complaining of ground water depletion though, it's becoming an increasing and somewhat scary problem.
This is an advantage of being on a municipal water supply. Since the city manufacturers their own water the customers never have to worry about running out unlike those on an antiquated water well system!
Might stop at a city meeting and speak my piece about the city ripping off the little people...
Time to put your money where your mouth is. Below is the link to the city council website where you can download the document to request to speak at the City Council meetings. I'm sure they would love to hear from you.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by saturnfan
Not high but we were lied to.
We were told the 155 was to make up for lost sales because of drought.
Drought ended. new people and businesses came to become customers.
Why were the increases not repealed? Let the new users pay for infrastructure or not come here. Same with businesses. no bribes. They can pay for the issues they cause coming to an already saturated area.
I worked for 17 years at a water/sewer utility, and currently work in commercial real estate, where we provide all utilities to 300+ tenants. When rates are increased to cover the loss of revenue due to drought
conservation, it's rare for those rates to go back down to previous levels. First, the customers tend to stick to their conservation after the drought is over, and second, the cost of providing the water continues to go up, drought or not. Especially in a public agency, the wages and benefits for the workers, cost of chemicals and power for treatment and pumping systems, vehicles and repairs, office equipment, and collection costs are always going up. Developers do pay for the cost of new water mains, fire hydrants, meters, even pumping plants if needed. Even significant new construction and population increases are not going to help with rates, unless it's upscale homes with a few acres of lawn and gardens to water.Public utilities do not make a profit, they are simply recovering costs and trying to save funds for maintenance and replacement of deteriorating infrastructure.
Here in the Seattle area, people have much higher bills than the OP, but often don't read it to find that most of the cost is for sewage treatment, not water. Sewage treatment is about double the charges for water, and going up fast due to federal, state and local environmental regulations. Complaining, even formally to the governing body will do no good, about all you can do is move to an area with wells and septic systems.
We were told the 155 was to make up for lost sales because of drought.
Drought ended. new people and businesses came to become customers.
Why were the increases not repealed? Let the new users pay for infrastructure or not come here. Same with businesses. no bribes. They can pay for the issues they cause coming to an already saturated area.
They never said thy would repeal them either so I don't consider that a lie.
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