City to institute wastewater rate hikes

Last edited 12:41 p.m., June 21, 2012

The city of Springfield will institute wastewater rate increases July 1.

On the first day of the city's fiscal 2013, the default charge for both residential and nonresidential customers will increase 28 percent to $15.91 from $12.43. Since an average household uses about 4,400 gallons of water per month, the average bill for residential customers will be $25.27, according to a news release from the city.

The charge of water per hundred cubic feed is increasing to $1.56 from $1.22 for residential and nonresidential customers, according to a schedule of rate increases available on the city's Web site.

During its May 31, 2011, meeting, Springfield City Council approved the wastewater rate increases that will continue through 2016. The plan was designed to fund $50 million in system improvements and raise the city's sewer fund operating balance to $20 million from $8 million, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

The annual rate increase schedule through 2016:

• On July 1, 2013, residential and nonresidential customer charges will increase to $16.55 and the cost of water per hundred cubic feet will jump to $1.62.
• Customer charges are scheduled to rise to $17.21 on July 1, 2014, with an increase to $1.68 per hundred cubic feet of water.
• On July 1, 2015, customers charges will increase to $17.73, and price per hundred cubic feet will increase to $1.73.
• During the final planned wastewater increase, effective July 1, 2016, customer charges will rise to $18.26, while the charge for water per hundred cubic feet will hit $1.78.