Here's How Much Wayland Water Rates Will Increase

WAYLAND, MA — Water rates in Wayland will rise in July by about 8.6 percent for the typical residential user following a Board of Public Works vote this week.

The new rates will go into effect when the 2023 fiscal year begins on July 1. At the end of each fiscal year, the Board of Public Works reviews how much revenue the town's water enterprise fund needs to sustain itself and sets rates accordingly.

The board voted 4-1 to increase rates across the board at a meeting on Tuesday, with vice chair Michael Wegerbauer the sole no vote. Here's a look at how the rates will change:

The typical Wayland household uses about 90 CCF per year, plus a base charge of $30.

Over the past year, Wayland has had to build a new treatment facility to reduce the amount of PFAS6 chemicals in town water. Due to PFAS expenditures, the fiscal 2023 water enterprise fund budget rose to $4.48 million, up from $3.9 million in fiscal 2022. The town's water use charges dropped in fiscal 2022 after granting about $288,000 in rebates to residents due to PFAS contamination.

In fiscal 2023, the water fund has a new $225,000 line item to pay for upkeep of new PFAS filters. Wayland rate payers will pay a 6.21 percent surcharge to fund that upkeep, according to budget documents. That surcharge will cost the average user about $22, according to town projections.

Wayland's water rate increase isn't as high as other nearby communities. Framingham water bills will rise about 16 percent in fiscal 2023 due to structural budget problems. Wellesley projected an increase as high as 60 percent because the town has had to increase its use of Massachusetts Water Resources Authority water due to high PFAS levels.