Local News
Cost of water in Murray going up in April
CHATSWORTH — Tom Martin said in his 36 years at the Chatsworth Water Works Commission, in “27 or 28” of those years some form of water restrictions have been required.
That’s one of the reasons he says the commission is raising water and sewer rates an average of 12 percent to 30 percent — inside and outside the city limits — beginning April 1.
“We know it’s bad timing, but it’s something that we really don’t have a choice in doing,” said Martin, the Water Works director of 21 years, on Tuesday. “The drought hit and the big downturn in the economy came at the same time. A lot of people got used to using less water, and they haven’t gone back to using it at the same rate they were. We are paying more by conserving.”
Less water use means less revenue for the utility. Since 2004, when residences, commercial users, institutions and industry used 76 million gallons on average a month, the usage rate fell to 74.5 million gallons monthly in 2007 and 68.1 million gallons so far in 2009. The state mandated a 10 percent decrease in water usage in 2007, Martin said, meaning the utility saw an automatic 10 percent decrease in revenue.
The utility has a $4.8 million budget this year, and projects a $5.1 million budget in 2010, he said.
Martin said the commission has tried to be proactive in meeting water needs and “drought proofing” the county by signing agreements with the city of Calhoun and the Ocoee Utility District in Cleveland, Tenn., but it has been a “Catch-22 situation” because the cost of doing business in other areas cannot be cut further.
Since 2007, the utility has installed an automated meter reading system that has cut meter readers from five to two, initiated employee furloughs, did not replace an employee who retired, and did not replace two employees who were terminated.
In addition, labor, insurance and their own utility costs “are not going down,” Martin noted.
“Insurance and liability continue to go up, even though we bid those out to another company,” he said. “We’re also dealing with aging equipment and having to replace it. Any day of the week we’re finding that we have to pay $5,000 or $10,000 for a gear box or pump or something like that.”
The rise in rates will be felt in two areas, an increase in minimum bills and an increase in the 1,000-gallon rate.
The current minimum bill for an inside-the-city customer — whether it be residential, commercial or institutional (school or church) — is $8 for water and $8 for sewer, based on 2,500 gallons of usage each. That rate will rise to $10 per month for each service in April. Usage of more than 2,500 gallons of water will be charged at $2.90 per 1,000 gallons, and sewer will be $3.10 per 1,000 gallons over the 2,500-gallon level.
Business customers who are currently paying at the commercial rate will pay an $18 minimum water bill if they are designated as “industrial” in April. Martin said an industrial customer will be defined as “manufacturing and selling wholesale in excess of 50 percent of their production.” They will pay $2.30 per 1,000 gallons of water over the 2,500-gallon level. Their minimum sewer bill will also be $18 per month, with $2.30 charged per 1,000 gallons over the basic 2,500-gallon allotment.
Outside the city limits, residential, commercial and institutional customers pay $16 for water and nothing for sewer because it is not available. Their minimum water bill will rise to $18 a month, and $4.10 per 1,000 gallons over the 2,500-gallon level. Industrial customers outside the city will pay a $26 minimum water bill, and $3.90 per 1,000 gallons over the 2,500-gallon level.
In Eton, which has a sewer system, minimum rates have been $16 for water and $10 for sewer. In April, residential, commercial and institutional customers will pay $18 for a minimum water bill and $4.10 per 1,000 gallons above 2,500 gallons. Sewer will rise to a $12 minimum and $3.60 for every 1,000 gallons over the basic 2,500 gallons.
Industrial customers in Eton will pay a $26 minimum water bill with $3.90 per 1,000 gallons over 2,500 gallons. Sewer will cost $20 minimum and $2.90 per 1,000 gallons over 2,500 gallons used.
- Local News
-
-
Public gets ‘sneak peek’ at Crown Gardens and Archives work
Sam Brown, left, a member of the Crown Gardens restoration team, talks with Hal Millsap of Dalton, who was born in the Crown Mill Village, Saturday about the restoration, which includes a bust of Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
When Karen Smith was born her parents brought her home to 410 Chattanooga Ave., just down the street from Crown Garden and Archives, the primary repository of Dalton’s history where much-needed restorative efforts are under way. Her husband, Michael, grew up a little further south, near the intersection with Selvidge Street.
Continued ... - Whitfield candidates stress personal communication as key to runoff chances
- Early voting in Dalton under way; Chatsworth on Monday
- Murray school board candidates prepping for runoff
- Whitifield, Murray candidates respond to questions
-
