HATFIELD —A typical household that has both municipal water and sewer would pay about $50 more annually for the service under proposed rate adjustments that are the subject of a public hearing Tuesday.
The Select Board will consider 5% increases in the rates for water and sewer at the hearing, which begins at 6 p.m. in the conference room at Memorial Town Hall.
The proposal has the sewer rate rising from $8.89 to $9.34 per 100 cubic feet, or about $2.40 each month, while the water rate would go up from $4.67 to $4.91 per 100 cubic feet, or about $1.85 each month.
Both adjustments are made as the result of the Water & Sewer Rate Study completed in January 2020.
The sewer increase is needed to cover both annual operating costs and for a project related to the aging wastewater treatment plant.
The wastewater management plan identified nearly $32 million in capital needs for the collection system, pump stations and plant, of which $12 million is being spent in the next three years. The town is already pursuing a federal U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, with the application submitted in June.
Similarly, the water increase is needed to cover both annual operating costs and for capital needs, with $6 million estimated over the next five years that includes water main replacement, water main construction and upgrades to the Omasta Well.
There are 767 households on town sewers and 1,345 water users.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
