This system means less staff is required to read meters each month, allowing those employees to focus on increasing efficiencies in repairs and other field operations. The Authority is also realizing the benefit of earlier capital investments such as radio read meters installed a few years ago. Old lines are being replaced with more durable materials to extend their useful life further into the future. Many of the water and sewer lines that serve customers are four decades old, and must be replaced to reduce the ongoing cost of repairs. "But the reality is that our system continues to get older and needs investment in order to keep delivering service to our community.
"In these difficult times, we wish we didn’t have to adjust rates at all," Hopkins said in the release. However, in 2009, the authority sold a total of 73 water taps and 19 sewer taps for the entire year. In a follow-up e-mail, Hopkins said the NCWSA was selling an average of 145 tap sales per month during Newton County’s peak growth in 2006. "That means we didn’t have all our eggs in the ‘new development basket,’ and stayed within our budget instead of predicting increased revenue from new water and sewer tap sales." "Fortunately, we saw what was happening with the economy early enough to base our budget on a more realistic view of things," said Hopkins said in the release. He said the price increases are small compared to the extra costs the NCWSA is experiencing from "purchasing water, meeting federal and state regulations, and purchasing supplies and equipment necessary to keep delivering clean, safe water every day." The increases will cost the average NCWSA water customer, who uses about 5,000 gallons, an extra 79 cents per month, said NCWSA Executive Director Mike Hopkins in a press release. More than 20,000 gallons per month - $6.70 per 1,000 gallons, up from $6.50.Up to 3,000 gallons per month - $5.15 per 1,000 gallons, up from $5.The department also had to raise more money in order to keep its excellent bond rating.
The county had to purchase carbon, a fairly expensive chemical, in order to lower the level of disinfection by-products, which exceeded legal limits earlier this year. The increased rate is due to various reasons said water resources director Karl Kelley. This is the second straight year the county has raised its water rates two years ago the rate was $1.51 per 1,000 gallons.
The county raised its wholesale water rates by 18 cents per 1,000 gallons to $1.77. As the county increases its wholesale water rates, its customers, the city of Covington and the Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority, are raising their rates too.
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