The Virginian-Pilot
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Water and sewer bills reflecting a nearly 20 percent rate increase have begun showing up in customers' mailboxes, but it might take another billing cycle for customers to feel the full effect.
The new rates, which went into effect July 1, raised water service charges by 18.2 percent, from $4.94 to $5.84 per 100 cubic feet of usage. Sewer charges rose by 19 percent, from $3.78 to $4.50 per 100 cubic feet. For the average customer, that amounts to an increase of $8.10 in the bi-monthly water and sewer bill.
Because the city's 24,000 customers are billed on a 60-day cycle and billing statements are staggered according to meter-reading schedules, some bills mailed out in recent weeks straddle June and July and might only partially reflect the new rates, said Albert S. Moor, Suffolk's director of public utilities.
The City Council approved the rate increase in May, citing the need to maintain payments of debt service and operating expenses for the city's water and sewer service. The city's hook-up revenues have been declining after a slowdown in residential and commercial construction. It was the second rate increase in two years.
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Water Rate
This increase only further emphasizes that our water rates are much higher than they need to be. Effectively, we spend $13.10 per ccu (100cu ft. per ccu). Each CCU is 748 gallons of water. Do the arithmetic, and you get $0.0175 cents per gallon, almost two cents a gallon for city water???? If you're average house is regulated to 11 gallons per minute and you take a 5 minute shower....you got it, it's almost a dollar for that five minute shower! Its cheaper to bathe yourself and your kids at the pilot where they charge $0.75 a shower!!!!! And you can take a longer one! I want to know what the city water folks are making these days, in terms of salary. Lets ask this hard question of them and find out where this outrageous water rate is going....