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Rate Increase
Fuels Research
By SHARON KILPATRICK
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Trying to prepare for next Monday's public hearing on sewer rate increases for Sperryville, Eugene Leggett, chairman of the Water and Sewer Authority will try to collect information on how other sewer systems handle increasing costs for personnel and mandates for improving their discharge.
Mr. Leggett asked John Orr, an engineer advising the authority on constructing a surge tank how to get such information at last Thursday's meeting. "There must be similar type sewer systems," he said. "We need to find out their costs and what they charge....Rates are an issue, and its going to be a big issue in 10 days."
Mr. Orr said almost all sewer systems are larger than Sperryville and almost all also have water systems.
Carson Johnson said Gordonsville has a system like Sperryville's that was put in immediately after the one in Sperryville.
Mr. Orr said that system is operated by the Rapidan Service Authority, and that would be a good contact since they operate other systems. He suggested Mr. Leggett also contact the Small Flow Clearing House at West Virginia University, he said they specialize in small systems and how they set rates.
Mr. Johnson said the Water and Sewer Authority Association might also have information.
Mr. Leggett said it would also be important to know what the life of the parts of the system are so the authority would know what major capital expenses may be coming up soon.
"The problem we’ve got has to be a problem every small community has....We're trying to make it pay as it goes," Mr. Leggett said. "To do that we've got to make another increase. State regulations are increasing costs in the technical area and in the personnel area, and we have the same number of subscribers. It's impossible, and there are no more grants."
Mr. Orr said, "It’s a microcosm of what's going on in the national area. One branch of government is calling for more and more expenses on the same group of people." He said now the authority is facing new requirements on ammonia and next there will be requirements on heavy metals "and you just have the people hooked to it to pay for it." He said such requirements are more of a problem with drinking
See WSA, Page A-6
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