Water Rates

Baltimore city's 1.8 million water-system customers will be getting some extra paper stuffed into their utility bill mailings this month — a notice that the city has violated federal drinking-water safety regulations. The violation is more of the late-homework variety than a real water-quality problem, say city, state and federal officials. The city missed a longstanding deadline last year for spelling out new steps it's taking at the federal government's direction to safeguard the water supply from disease-causing contaminants.

Municipal water and sewer systems should be self-supporting. Fees should be based on the volume of use, while setting an equitable base rate for everyone using the system. They should not be vulnerable to political manipulation.Most counties try to follow that self-supporting rule for utilities. But they also subject the economics of these operations to the politics of elected councils or commissioners. The result can be years of frozen rates, and neglected maintenance and improvements, followed by a sharp rate hike.

I believe your readers would be most interested in learning exactly what water infrastructure was replaced by the water bill hikes of 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007. I know it would make me feel better about the current hike to know that all five of the last fee hikes were actually used to rebuild our aging system. Larry J. Gray Sr., Baltimore

Baltimore County residents will see a 10 percent jump in water and fire service rates beginning July 1, under a deal approved by the city's spending board on Wednesday. City officials say they need the extra money to fund repairs and improvements to the aging pipes and pumping systems and to bring them into compliance with stricter federal guidelines. The city, which manages the water system for the county, recently raised water and sewer rates by 9 percent for city residents and public works officials warned that rates would continue to rise for the next several years.

The city Board of Estimates is considering a proposal to raise water and sewer rates by an average of 16.4 percent for residential customers and up to 40 percent for some large businesses.The proposed increase would affect 1.5 million customers in the city and in Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard and Carroll counties -- all of whom share the city's water and waste water system.In all, the increases would bring an additional $18 million a year to the water and sewer system, which is funded separately from other government operations and by law must be self-sustaining.

Carroll commissioners expect sparse attendance at a public hearing today on the county's revised water and sewer rates, which are billed according to each customer's quarterly usage. The county held several well-attended hearings last spring on the new rate formula, designed to lower rates for those who use less water. On advice of legal counsel, officials decided to hold one more hearing on the rates. "This hearing is a courtesy in case people misunderstood," said Commissioner Julia Walsh Gouge.

MANCHESTER -- Town residents were warned at the beginning of the month to expect a bit of sticker shock when they opened their water and sewer bills."Sticker shock?" said Augusta Road resident Pat Wallman. "This is more like cardiac arrest."A whole lot of folks are clutching their chests as they ponder significantly higher bills that are due today.A standing-room-only crowd of nearly 90 residents came to Town Hall last night to complain of water and sewer bills that have doubled -- or tripled -- for families and businesses.

Baltimore officials approved a 9 percent increase in water rates Wednesday as the city auditor revealed that the beleaguered system's billing problems are more extensive than previously known. City Auditor Robert L. McCarty said a continuing review shows that the Department of Public Works likely owes some of its 410,000 water customers at least $5 million more in refunds due to inaccurate bills. That is in addition to $4.

Carroll Commissioner Donald I. Dell and several county staffers will attend Monday's Sykesville Town Council meeting to discuss water and sewer rate increases and repairs to Spout Hill Road.The town asked the commissioner to attend the meeting to answer questions about the issues.Yesterday, Mr. Dell met with staff members to discuss the meeting.He and Comptroller Eugene C. Curfman will discuss why the county increased water, sewer and area connection fees in the Freedom District last August.

Carroll County won't be able to fend off a 16 percent increase in the rate it pays Baltimore for water from Liberty Reservoir, county officials said yesterday. Carroll faces the same increase that all Baltimore water customers will see this year. The Carroll commissioners initially balked at the increase, saying the county shouldn't have to pay the bill for improvements to Baltimore water facilities that Carroll doesn't use. Though they again expressed reservations yesterday, the commissioners seemed resigned to paying this year's increase, if not future ones.