WPCA Proposes 13 Percent Increase In Ledyard Water Rates

The Water Pollution Control Authority is proposing a 13 percent increase in the town's water rates. A public hearing on the proposed rate increase will be held on July 15 at 7 p.m., at the Ledyard Senior Center.

The increase is being proposed because of a projected shortfall in the 2013-14 budget of $104,000, according to the proposal document on the town's website. The authority anticipates total revenue for the budget year of $821,700. It projects expenses to be $926,542.

The 13 percent rate increase would cover the shortfall.

The authority has three different rates of usage: single-family residential, apartment/living unit residential, and commercial. Under the proposed increase, with "the typical residential usage of 18,000 gallons per quarter, the proposed residential increase would equal $63.44 per year or $5.29 per month."

Based on usage, the lowest increase would be 13.05 percent and the highest increase would be 13.64 percent for a single-family, metered-use home.

The authority serves about 4,500 properties in town.

According to a survey of water rates across Connecticut by Tighe & Bond of Middletown, which is included in the documents, the increase would place Ledyard water users on the more expensive end of water in the state.

With the increase, the average in Ledyard would be $539. The highest rate in Connecticut as of July 2010 is $729 paid by customers of Connecticut Water Company - South Coventry Division. 

The lowest is $155 paid by customers of the Danbury Public Utilities.

The Connecticut average is $414.67. Locally, Groton Utilities customers average  $529 and Aquarion Water customers average $504.

You can read the full WPCA proposal document here.

You can read the 2011 Connecticut Water Rate Survey here.