×

Sewer rates going up for city and Woodward and Loyalsock townships

Sewer rates are going up by 4 percent, or $19 a year, for Williamsport Municipal Sanitary Authority customers in Williamsport and Loyalsock and Woodward townships.

Water rates remain the same, Jonathan Baker, authority director of finance, said Wednesday during a meeting of the authorities.

The rates were approved by the board in separate votes.

The rate for wastewater service will increase for residents in the city and Loyalsock Township by 45 cents, from $11.35 to $11.80 per thousand gallons, Baker said.

The increase will add about $19 annually to the average residential customer, or $1.58 more for users of 42,000 gallons per month, he said.

Flat-rate customers will see the same percentage increase. Woodward Township rates will increase from $64.50 to $67 per month per household.

Rate changes begin on July 1, Baker said.

With the increases, the authority anticipates an additional $420,000 revenue.

Increases were needed to help the authority continue to make improvements to its collection system, officials said.

The authority needs to continue relining and/or replacing much of the underground collection system, Baker said. The purpose of that is to maintain the aging sewer infrastructure and to comply with regulatory requirements.

Decreasing volume and increasing operating costs at the treatment plants make the rate increase necessary, he said.

Water rates remaining the same is mainly due to “significant grant funding and low-interest borrowing,” Baker said.

The authority is close to completing a project in South Williamsport that began four years ago to add 6 miles of water mains, a water storage tank, pump station and other improvements, he said.

While able to keep water rates the same, enough projects are on the horizon that likely will impact rate structure, he said.

The authority said it was the first rate hike in 18 months.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today