WILLIAMSBURG — The town has approved a substantial increase to its sewer rate, which will take effect immediately and be seen in sewer users’ bills next spring.
At its Tuesday meeting, the Water and Sewer Commission increased the sewer rate from $5.70 per hundred cubic feet used to $7.75 per hundred cubic feet.
“It is a significant increase,” said Town Clerk Brenda Lessard, who serves as the secretary for the commission.
Commission Chairman Eric Cerreta said the panel was “pretty much forced” to raise the rate based on what Northampton was charging the town.
Northampton treats Williamsburg’s wastewater, and it has been charging Williamsburg additional money because of high test results for total suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand.
Lessard also noted that the company that audits the town’s books said that the rate needed to be raised to sustain the budget.
Cerreta said the water rate isn’t being increased at this time and that the sewer rate increase isn’t necessarily permanent.
“We’re not in this to make money,” Cerreta said. “If our costs go down we will lower our rates.”
Cerreta said that the new rate is similar to but still less than what Northampton charges its ratepayers. He also said the commission wanted people to do their best to get testing numbers down before the rate was increased.
“We talked about it for over a year now,” he said.
In terms of improving test results, Lessard said that people should only flush human waste and toilet paper. She also said people should avoid putting sanitary wipes, grease and food into the sewer system, which includes pouring grease into the sink.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.