Danvers Raises Water, Sewer Rates

DANVERS, MA — The Danvers Water & Sewer Commission voted Thursday to raise water rates by 15 percent and sewer rates by one percent for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. For the average Danvers household using 12,000 cubic feet of water per year, the combined increase works out to 8.87 percent, or $34.50 per quarter. Commissioners attributed the increase to declining water sales and state requirements.

"It’s tough to run a business when the State requires you to spend money on advertising and programs intended to decrease sales, which artificially reduces demand and operating revenue, which in turn requires higher rates to support the system," Water and Sewer Commissioner Coley Rybicki said.

Wetter springs and restrictions on water use from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection have led to a water sales decrease of five percent since 2016. The commission also said ongoing capital improvements have fueled the need for higher water and sewer rates.

The commissioners "are clearly sympathetic to the impact this will have on ratepayers, but they also understand the headwinds facing the system and the statutory requirement that Danvers Water remain self-supporting," Town Manager Steve Bartha said. "This increase should ensure rate stability in the form of modest and predictable rate increases moving forward, which along with reliable service is what most customers are looking for."