Unpleasant Surprise For Many In Tewksbury As Water Bills Arrive

TEWKSBURY, MA -- Several Tewksbury residents are getting a shock when they open their December water bills. They've been reporting increases of as much as 100% in community forums on social media and in direct messages to Tewksbury Patch.

A spokesman for the Water & Sewer Division of Tewksbury Public Works was not immediately available for comment Tuesday morning. But the confusion seems to stem from a new tier system that selectmen approved earlier this year

In March, selectmen proposed a change in the tier structure for sewer and water rates. According to the minutes of that meeting, there was to be no increase in the actual water rates. At the time, selectmen said the end result was that residents should expect higher bills in summer but lower bills in the fall and winter, with no significant changes to the amount paid in total each year, according to the minutes.

While rates did not increase, the level at which the higher rate for each tier kicks in at a lower level of usage. So someone who used 13,000 gallons last year would have been billed $94.27. This year, under the new tier, they would have been billed $134.03.

"Just got mine. $517!" one resident posted on Facebook. "That’s the rate when I’m filling the darn pool all summer!"

The town sends out bills in April, August and December. The rate schedule is available on the town's Website.Meanwhile, other residents were reporting big drops in their bills, even though the amount of water they used had not significantly changed.

"Ours was half as much but our usage didn't really drop. I checked the rates online and its calculated right," another Facebook poster wrote. "Not sure what is going on. Either rates dropped, or I got screwed last year."

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).