While I stood in line at the grocery store, the gentleman in front of me put his bottled water on the conveyor and asked, “Remember when water was free?”
He was probably just looking for a simple nod, but I took the opportunity to explain that in reality, water has never been free. I noted that wars have been fought over the availability of clean water for thousands of years.
Based on his expression, I realized his question had been rhetorical, and I quickly changed the subject. But this short dialogue reveals that people really do think water is free, and that the public in general does not appreciate the value of the water and wastewater industry.
The people most acutely aware of this misperception are the municipal employees who make sure our tap water is safe and our wastewater is sufficiently treated. As regulations become stricter and consent orders more prevalent, municipal resources are decreasing. Senior people and their experience are walking out the door. The economy has made these conditions worse, and the expression “more with less” is quickly heading toward “everything with nothing.”
It is important for sewer and water rates to reflect the true cost to provide services that comply with regulatory requirements while meeting an appropriate level of service to the customer. All too often, we see politicians seeking re-election tout their ability to maintain water and sewer rates for several years, while the real effect is to tie the hands of the municipal employees who take pride in the service they provide.
There is an old saying: What happens after a drought? It rains. Similarly, after this long period with no sewer and water rate increases, the inevitable must happen. Prices go up, and often sharply. We can see it all around the country.
In December of last year, the City of Delavan, Wis., which has not had a major rate increase for 17 years, considered a 14 percent increase in water and sewer rates. The City of Sebring, Fla., which has had one increase since 1999, considered a 24 percent increase in water and sewer rates before settling on a flat increase of $2.50 per month.
And Wausau, Wis., approved a 25 percent sewer rate increase for 2011, only the third increase since 1989. The increases would be much easier to manage if these cities and the myriad of cities across the country would make the small increases every year needed to sustain service and keep up with the economy.
It is also interesting to note that the increased monthly costs that go with the rate hikes mentioned above range from about $2.50 to $5 per month per household, totaling less than the cost of an average value meal at a fast-food restaurant. Compare this to increases in other utilities such as cable TV or natural gas, and this adds an interesting perspective, confirming that most people believe water and sewer should be free.
So the next time you hear a political ad saying we need more police officers and firefighters, consider also the other proud public servants — those who clean our blocked sewer pipes and repair our broken water mains at all hours. Let’s give these public service employees the financial resources to maintain the level of service we expect — and the respect they so richly deserve.
Ted DeBoda is executive director of NASSCO. He can be reached at director@nassco.org. NASSCO is located at 11521 Cronridge Drive, Suite J, Owings Mills, MD 21117.
