Politics & Government
Peabody May Need To Hike Rates For Water System Fixes
The upgrades being proposed by Mayor Ted Bettencourt would address low pressure and discoloration, as well as other problems in the system.
PEABODY, MA -- The city will need to spend $36.2 million to make upgrades to its water system after years of neglect, Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt said in a Nov. 21 letter to City Council. But those upgrades will likely call for a 15 percent increase in water and sewer rates, or an additional $118 per year for the average Peabody homeowner.
"Water is our most precious natural resource," Bettencourt wrote. "However, if we as a city continue to perform patchwork, reactive maintenance to our infrastructure and continue to neglect making the major improvements that are necessary, we will be doing a disservice to the next generation of Peabody families."
The fixes would address the smelly and discolored water that has plagued Peabody in recent years, as well as low water pressure problems and frequent water main breaks. Bettencourt is scheduled to present his plan to City Council when it meets Thursday night.
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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).
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