Water and Sewer Rate Hike Necessary

A proposed 9 percent hike in the city’s water and sewer rate isn’t popular, but it’s necessary.

That was the message from Baltimore City Council members following a hearing of the Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee Thursday morning.

Councilman William Cole, D-District 11, said it was frustrating that the city doesn’t have more control of the situation, but that a rate increase is necessary to partly pay for the $4 billion in improvements that public works officials say are needed to be made to the city’s water and wastewater system.

“We’re paying the cost of a 100-plus-year-old water system,” Cole said.

Councilman Bill Henry, D-District 4, said the city has no choice but to pay for the system that brings in clean water and disposes of wastewater.

“We have to fix our water and wastewater system and we have to pay for it,” Henry said.

Henry said what is happening now is the result of previous leaders, going back to before William Donald Schaefer was mayor, not addressing the situation.

“For generations, previous city leaders did not do what they should have done to maintain our water and wastewater system,” he said.

During the hearing, council members questioned Department of Public Works officials about what could be done to lower rates, and whether a reduction could ever be possible.

Marcia Collins, of the Department of Public Works, told committee members that maintaining and replacing a rapidly deteriorating infrastructure, as well as abiding by federal government standards, have forced the department’s hand in seeking a rate increase.

“The water rates are not what we’d like, or what we’d want, but what we have to do,” Collins said.

She also told the committee not to expect a fee reduction anytime soon.

“The potential is there to ask for a decrease. Do I think that’s going to happen anytime soon? No,” Collins said.

According to city figures, the 9 percent increase would generate $17.9 million in additional revenue. The rate increase will result in an $85.88 increase in the water and sewer bill for a family of four that uses 320 gallons a day.

 What the increase means to residents:

• 8 ounce glass of water costs less than l cent
• 10-minute shower (16 gallons) costs 6 cents
• For every $1 spent, customers receive 24 hours of water and sewer service