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Water rates
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though it had its own operators at the plant, the more stringent state standards necessitated managers with experience in water and sewer plant operation to oversee the two plants.
"They’re doing a good job,” Mrs. Johnston said. “They’re expensive, but I feel very satisfied about the operation.”
According to Mrs. Eulane McCurry, Madison’s town treasurer, the town now charges its in-town customers $7.50 for the first 2,000 gallons per month, and $2.50 for each 1,000 over that. Customers outside the town limits pay $9 for the first 2,000 gallons, then the same $2.50 charge applies per additional 1,000 gallons.
Tap fees are $450 for town residents, $650 for customers outside of town. Presently the town serves about 220 customers, who are billed monthly.
Water rates in Madison were last raised in 1982, and according to Mrs. McCurry the town is considering another increase. No decision on the amount has been reached, pending the completion of a survey she is undertaking to give council an idea of the increase needed.
But it’s not just small towns like Madison, with almost 220 customers, which are feeling the pinch.
The Town of Warrenton, which serves about 2,100 water customers both inside and outside the town limits, is considering a rate increase. On March 3, the town’s tap fee was increased from $1,200 to $2,800, with customers outside the town limits paying an additional 50 percent surcharge.
With the town looking at a $6 million bond issue to pay for upgrading of its sewer plant, “we’ve got to look tp the customer to pay for the bond issue,” Mr. Huddle said. “There’s no more federal money.”
Now, Warrenton charges its water customers $13.25 for the first 5,000 gallons used, and $2.65 for each 1,000 gallons over that minimum. Again, customers outside the town’s limits pay a 50 percent premium on those charges. Customers are billed bi-monthly.
As the town looks at its options, Mr. Huddle said that one consideration is going to a monthly billing, which, if the structure stays the same, would effectively double the price of water. “We don’t know at this time,” he stressed. “But the rate will have to be increased to pay for the system upgrade. It used to be we could get a 75 to 80 percent grant... now we’ve got to come up with 100 percent of the money. ”
And, Mr. Huddle added, there are no federal grant programs now available. Congress recently passed a $20 billion Clean Water bill, but no grant programs for localities have yet been announced.
In several locations around Fauquier County, the Fauquier Water and Sewer Authority provides water and sewer service. The systems range from several subdivisions in the New Baltimore area, whose separate systems were just recently cross-connected, to The Plains, Catlett, Bealeton, and “several areas with about a half-dozen customers,” according to WSA’s acting manager Scott Rice.
The WSA’s approximately 1,000 customers pay $17 per month for the first 2,000 gallons of water. Above that usage, the charge is $2 per 1,000 gallons. The average bill, according to Mr. Rice, is about $25 per month.
Rates were last raised two years ago, he said, including an increase in the tap fee from $1,000 to $1,500. A consulting firm is presently doing a rate and fiscal policy analysis to determine the
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