Belmont's New Water Rate System Explained

Belmont residents can expect to pay more for their water – or more precisely, pay more for the more water they use – in the coming year.

During a public hearing at the Beech Street Center on Wednesday, June 17, Director of Public Works Peter Castanino told a small gathering of residents that the town had commissioned a study on water and sewer rates in preparation of new federal and state environmental laws. And those recommendations will change the way residents pay for those services

Exactly a month ago, the firms Woodcock and Associates and Raftelis Financial Consultants reported to the Board of Selectmen on revising Belmont's water and sewer rates so that people who use the services more will pay an increased share.

Currently, Belmont has a fixed service charge for water rates. Sewer service rates are based on usage.

The consultants advised the town to increase its block rate so the more water a family uses, the higher the rate they pay.

They also called for increasing the service charge for both water and sewer use by approximately five percent.

Under the new plan, the average homeowner would pay $22 more each quarter in their water and sewer bills; a $115 increase a quarter for homes using a larger-than-normal amount of irrigation; and approximately an additional $44,000 a year for McLean Hospital.

In addition, the study calculated that households using a large amount of irrigation could see an increase of nearly 19 percent in their water bill during the summer months in the system.

Since that earlier meeting, however, Christopher Woodcock of Woodcock and Associates said inquires and additional input has forced them to rethink some their initial recommendations.

Woodcock believe Belmont's current septage charge actually recovers the costs the town pays and no longer recommends the five percent increase in sewer charges.

In addition, increasing the block rates in Belmont's water system would have the unintended result of penalizing owners and occupants for two or more unit residential properties.

Those multi-family residential accounts – whether a two unit condominium building or a large apartment block ­– that employ a single master meter would likely be moved into the second higher rate block which would not happen if the owners of the structures request a per unit billing.

Under that proposal, the total water used is divided by the number of residential living units. A per unit billing is calculated based on that average use and then multiplied by the number of units to derive the total bill for the account.

The consultants also recommended that the water and sewer service charges are discounted 25 percent for customers who meet the life-line eligibility criteria due to income constraints.

Roger Colton of Precinct 6, however, strongly suggested that there be a 30 percent reduction in the rate for life-line customers.

"Lower income residents should not have a rate increase of 14 percent when the average customer is bearing a 7 percent increase," he said.

In addition, Colton pointed out that the Belmont Municipal Light Department has a low-income discount and would like to see the number of residents who fit the eligibility increase.

The town should work to ensure that if life-line residents receive the 30 percent discount for water and sewer charges, they are also enrolled in the Light Department's discount program.

The Board of Selectmen will discuss smart meters – which the Light Department is looking into – for water and sewer meters as well at its morning meeting.

In addition, said Board of Selectmen Chairman Ralph Jones, the town might want to undergo a water audit of public buildings to see what they are using on a daily basis.