Previous rate increases
2006: 2.5 percent
2007: 3 percent
2008: 6.5 percent
2009: 8 percent
2010: 9 percent
2011 (proposed): 9.5 percent
Rising water bills and “high numbers” of burst pipes are probably in store for residents of Maryland’s suburbs, according to the newly proposed budget of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. The WSSC, which serves Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, is proposing to raise water bills by 9.5 percent starting in July, which would increase the average residential bill by more than $60 a year. Water rates rose 9 percent last year, increasing the average residential bill by more than $50 a year.
“We recognize that these are difficult economic times for many people in our area,” said WSSC General Manager Jerry Johnson. “We are striving to balance the additional financial impact on our customers with the overall benefit of the planned programs we believe are necessary to support water and sewer services.”
The WSSC’s infrastructure problems drew national attention a year ago when a large water main burst on River Road, trapping motorists in their cars as they awaited emergency rescue.
The agency’s proposed capital budget of $495 million is 33 percent higher than the current budget, partly because of large pipe rehabilitation programs. But the agency said customers can expect “high numbers of water main breaks, especially in the winter, until substantially more” replacement work is finished.
The agency repaired 1,847 water main breaks in 2009, the second-highest total in 25 years.
Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen, D-at large, said no elected official wants to impose rate increases during a tough economy but added that the utility was underfunded for years when there were no rate increases.
“We are catching up for lost time,” Floreen said.
The proposed budget has to be approved by both county councils, and Prince George’s lawmakers recommended that rates increase no more than 8 percent. The Montgomery County Council put the maximum potential rate increase at 9.9 percent.
The WSSC would have to reduce infrastructure replacement and maintenance, sewer inspections, and other projects if rates increase 8 percent, agency officials said.
