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By WILLIAM WESLEY TALBOTT
Rappahannock New* Staff Writer
The Rappahannock County Water and Sewer Authority approved a $12.85 monthly user fee for the new sewer system in Sperryville at its March 6 meeting, but the rate is subject to public review. Persons will have an opportunity to comment at the WSA meeting on June 5.
The $12.85 monthly rate was calculated by dividing the yearly operating budget of $40,000 by 260 equivalent dwelling units (EDUs); that total is then divided by 12 to yield a monthly figure.
A dwelling unit is defined as “any room, group of rooms, house trailer or other enclosure occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters by a family or other group of persons living together or by a person living alone.”
An EDU is based on the average estimated volume of sewerage generated in a dwelling unit. EDUs will be applied to both residential and non-residential users of the system based on the EDU schedule contained in the sewer use ordinance adopted.
Based on the recommendation of the system’s engineer, the figure could have been higher, $13.02 per month, and still have been within conventional methods of rate determination. However Authority members believed they could charge the lesser sum by intensifying efforts to collect money from those who may try to avoid making payments.
Rate calculation is “a matter of simple division,” stated Authority member Martin Woodard.
The Authority voted to approve hiring Hudson Yowell as an independent contractor to serve as the sewer system’s operator. Mr. Yowell’s two day per week assignment will also involve the training of an apprentice for the job. Mr. Yowell currently participates in the operation of two other sewer systems in the state.
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