06/06/2007

County sets water and wastewater rates
By Bob Lassahn

On June 5 the Worcester County Commissioners held a public hearing regarding the proposed water and wastewater rates in the 12 sanitary service areas operated by the county for fiscal year 2007/2008. Only one person commented during the public hearing to commend the commissioners for the clarity of information provided.

One change that will be evident is the quarterly billing cycle. Other minor changes to some customers will make the billing uniform for all service areas. The changes are possible due to new billing software improving efficiency. Assateague Point and River Run currently billed semi-annually and West Ocean City currently billed annually will be switched to the quarterly schedule, while Briddletown is slated to be adjusted to billing on the first day of the month. Notification and explanation of the changes will be provided to customers in their billing or by special notice. In each case the customers benefit with better control of their cash flow. All references to rates provided below are based upon quarterly charges.

For the Ocean Pines service area proposed changes include an increase from $120 to $128 in the domestic charge for minimum usage, a decrease in the EDU (equivalent dwelling unit) charge from $55 to $47, a reduction in the Backbone EDU charge from $41.25 to $36 and a change in commercial rates from $180 to $240 minimum and $4.25 to $5 usage. For domestic ratepayers the increase in the minimum and decrease in the EDU offset each other resulting in no change to the basic quarterly bill.

The Assateague Pointe service area will see a change from semi-annual to quarterly billing plus the addition of a Snug Harbor EDU charge of $162.50 quarterly to repay a Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) loan.

In the Briddletown service area (water only) ratepayers will experience a change in their billing date plus the addition of a $20 flat rate swimming pool charge (in-ground) and a $25 flat rate irrigation system charge.

For Edgewater Acres service area quarterly rates increase from $1.60 to $2.80 per 1,000 gallons (0 - 10,000 gallons) and the minimum for metered customers goes from $120 to $128. The accessibility charge increases from $12.50 to $13.50 and the front foot assessment per linear foot decreases from $0.055 to $0.045. There are no changes to quarterly flat rates with un-metered domestic water remaining at $55 and domestic sewer only at $110.

The Landings service area will experience an increase from $120 to $128 in the minimum, an increase from $25 to $100 in the accessibility charge and the addition of a $15 Lewis Road EDU charge to repay connection costs.

Lighthouse Sound service area will experience an increase in sewer rates from $150 to $200 and the accessibility charge for unimproved lots will rise from $45 to $75.

The only change for Mystic Harbour service area is an increase in the domestic minimum from $120 to $128.

Newark service area will also see the increase from $120 to $128 in the minimum charge for domestic ratepayers, while commercial ratepayers will see their minimum charge increase from $140 to $150. The rate per EDU will decrease from $40 to $32.

For Oyster Harbor, South Pointe Village and Sunset Village, all sub-areas of Mystic Harbour service area, there are no rate changes in store. Sunset Village will be switched from a semi-annual to a quarterly billing and payments for water service will be made to the Mystic Harbour service area.

The Riddle Farm service area domestic minimum rate will increase from $120 to $128 and the accessibility charge will increase from $25 to $50 per EDU.

River Run will switch from the current semi-annual to quarterly billing with the minimum charge for water increasing from $37.50 to $40.

West Ocean City will be changed from annual to quarterly billing along with an increase in the domestic fixture rate from $7.50 to $8.75 per fixture, while the commercial rate increases from $10.50 to $12 per fixture.

With no public objection forthcoming the seven commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the proposed changes for the various service areas as outlined above.

Send an Email Letter to Courier Editor - be sure to include your telephone number.