by Trish Rudder
Berkeley Springs Water Works (BSWW), the town- owned water department, is reminding its customers that the water rate increase will appear on the next bill.
In the October 8 Bath Town Council meeting, Councilman Dave O’Connell, who chairs the water
department committee, said the water tariff will be reflected on the November bill.
Last Thursday, Town of Bath Clerk Sharron Corrick said the water department customers have been notified on their last two bills.
She said the notification of the rate increase is also on the Town of Bath website and on its social media page in addition to ads in The Morgan Messenger and newspaper coverage on the increase.
The new rate is about a $6 increase for the lowest amount of water usage.
For 2000 gallons equivalent, the rate is $38.72, up $6.44 from $32.28.
The town council approved the rate increase in July.
Both O’Connell and Councilman Greg Schene, who chairs the Ordinance committee, gave reasons for the rate increase.
Schene had said “we must have an uninterrupted water service. Our econ- omy is tied to our water.”
The U.S. 522 bypass and the water extension lines down 522 will increase the need for more water.
“Development is the unknown factor,” Schene said.
O’Connell had said crisis management caused a 15% increase in operations;
“We are $65,000 over budget this year,” O’Connell said.
He said the plant needs to be a 24-hour operation. “Long deferred maintenance along with employee turnover has made managing the expense side of things challenging over the past year. Of course, the second water source and 24-hour operations are upcoming PSC [Public Service Commission] requirements.”
The water department services about 1,400 customers.