April 22, 2019 John DeLuca Director of Water & Sewer Water & Sewer Department
6:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. Presentation followed by Q&A 6:30 p.m. Public Hearing accepting public testimony for the record. Please sign up to testify. Following Hearing Additional Q&A will be offered afterward as needed.
In partnership with the MWRA, we provide: Fire Fire Public Health Public Health Public Safety Public Safety Suppression Suppression • Award- • Sanitary • Maintain winning, sewer service water clean water for a city of pressure and to your home 80,000+ volume for or business firefighting
Infrastructure MWRA Fees Improvements Water & Sewer Water & Sewer revenues fund revenues fund Water & only water and only water and sewer related sewer related Sewer expens expenses. Bill Payments Water & Sewer Water & Sewer Enterprise Enterprise Funds are Funds are independent independent Ongoing from the from the Maintenance Operational and Repairs General City Gene ral City Costs Budget. Budge t.
We charge ONLY what we must to provide you water and sewer service and maintain our system. Without sufficient revenue, we cannot ◦ Maintain service, ◦ Make needed repairs, and ◦ Fund water and sewer infrastructure replacement and improvements.
55% 65% Cost of water water supply Cost of treatment of from MWRA as a % of wastewater wastewater by MWRA as Water Enterprise Fund % of Sewer Enterprise Expenses Fund Expenses
Combined MWRA Sewer & Water Assessments Over Time FY20 charges are estimated. $28M $26.4M $26.4M $25.3M $25.3M $26M $24.4M $24.4M $23.6M $23.6M $24M $22.7M $22.7M $21.7M $21.7M $22M $21.0M $21.0M $19.6M $20.1M $20.1M $19.6M $20M $18M $16M $14M $12M $10M FY12 FY12 FY13 FY13 FY14 FY14 FY15 FY15 FY16 FY16 FY17 FY17 FY18 FY18 FY19 FY19 FY20 FY20
The City Owns & Maintains 29,000+ 29,000+ 125 miles 125 miles 128 miles 128 miles water & 4,000+ 4,000+ 1,600+ fire 1,600+ fire of water of sewer sewer manholes hydrants hydrants mains mains connections
Water Line Sections Built Water Line Sections Built 2796 1931 1094 934 844 272 136 17 Unknown Unknown 1800 to 1800 to 1880 to 1880 to 1900 to 1900 to 1920 to 1920 to 1940 to 1940 to 1960 to 1960 to 1980 to 1980 to 1880 1880 1900 1900 1920 1920 1940 1940 1960 1960 1980 1980 present present Sewer & Drain Line Sections Built Sewer & Drain Line Sections Built 1305 915 821 694 502 153 64 18 Unknown Unknown 1860 to 1860 to 1880 to 1880 to 1900 to 1900 to 1920 to 1920 to 1940 to 1940 to 1960 to 1960 to 1980 to 1980 to 1880 1880 1900 1900 1920 1920 1940 1940 1960 1960 1980 1980 present present 9
Tuberculation is when mineral deposits build up inside the water main and the diameter is reduced. Negatively impacts water volume and fire prevention flows.
We are still moving Emergency repairs Emergency repairs from reactive to often result in often result in proactive: addressing more damage more damage and and needs now rather than reacting to crises. loss to homes & loss to homes & businesses. They businesses. They Being proactive will also cost more also cost more save us all money in the long term. than preventive than preventive repairs and repairs and Being proactive helps maintenance. maintenance. to minimize risk to public health and helps reduce service interruptions.
Continued increases 1. in MWRA fees charged to the City Intensified efforts to 2. address critical and longstanding 4.8% 4.8% MWRA Sewer infrastructure needs MWRA Sewer Assessment Increa Assessmen Increase se Stricter regulatory Projected for Projected for FY20 FY20 3. requirements from 4.7% 4.7% MWRA Water MWRA Water EPA and MassDEP Assessmen Assessment Increa Increase se Projected for Projected for FY20 FY20
In other communities with similar infrastructure challenges, the EPA has mandated a combined As an example, charge of 4% of median a household that household income to tackle currently pays system improvements $858 annually on combined water & sewer could pay up to $3,120 13
Water pressure for fire Boston flooding, March 2019 fighting must be reliable 14
Base Fees Water Rates Sewer Rates Charges •6% •7.5% •No •No change change increase increase
6% volumetric water rate increase No change to base charge New residential discount tier Tier Range Tier Range (in Billing (in Billing Tier Tier Units) Units) FY19 FY19 Rate Rate FY20 FY20 Rate Rate Discount $4.14 $3.95 (new) 0-8 T1 9-13 $4.14 $4.39 1 billing unit T2 14-67 = 100 cubic $5.97 $6.33 feet = 748 T3 68-133 $6.26 $6.64 gallons T4 OVER 133 $6.50 $6.89 16
7.5% volumetric sewer rate increase No change to base charge New residential discount tier Tier Range Tier Range (in Billing (in Billing Tier Tier Units) Units) FY19 FY19 Rate Rate FY20 Rate FY20 Rate Discount (new) 0-8 $8.20 $7.93 T1 9-13 $8.20 $8.82 1 billing unit T2 14-67 $10.46 $11.24 = 100 cubic feet = 748 T3 68-133 $10.97 $11.79 gallons T4 OVER 133 $11.36 $12.21 17
Median Change per Usage per FY19 Annual FY20 Annual Annual Tri‐Annual Building Type Bill (in CCF) Combined Bill Combined Bill Change Bill Single Family 17 $858 $874 $16 $5.34 Two Family 29 $1,450 $1,507 $57 $19.00 Three Family 40 $1,992 $2,086 $94 $31.34 Source: Abrahams Group analysis of billing data. The chart above shows the median usage across all bills in FY18. Includes rounded volumetric and base charges. 18
Exemptions for seniors and others (e.g., clauses 17D and 41C) Ability to set water usage limits on Aquahawk, our Alert system Rain barrels for watering garden available at DPW Water conservation tips
Public testimony at Public Hearing 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 22, 2019. Open for written comment through 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 29, 2019. Please send written comments to Director of Water and Sewer John Deluca at water@somervillema.gov or mail to 17 Franey Rd, Somerville, MA 02145
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