Senoia residents could soon see an increase in their water bills.
During Monday night’s meeting of the Senoia City Council, City Manager Richard Ferry explained the city had little choice in the matter after one of the city’s large industries dramatically lowered its water purchase rate from the city. The purchase dropped more than $100,000 in a year, and Ferry said it was time for the city to re-examine its water fee structure.
A key component of how much the rate is increased lies in the city recently learning it had been approved for addition withdrawal from its primary water source, Hutchinson’s Lake. The city is currently permitted to withdraw 300,000 gallons per day from the lake, but the EPD granted the city an extra 150,000 gallons per day from the lake. The additional withdrawal, along from the 350,000 gallons a day the city can get from its wells should accomodate the city’s water needs until 2040, Ferry said.
But the increased capacity will also add costs for updating the city’s water treatment plant. The city also needs to dredge the lake and build a water tank on Ga. Highway 16 that will also increase costs, Ferry added.
Currently city residents pay a minimum $13.75 water bill and have an average water bill of $26.07. Ferry offered the council four rate options, ranging from increasing the minimum bill to $15 to $16, with increases also added according to the amount of water used over 1,000 gallons.
Ferry said the option with the biggest increase would raise the average water bill to $31.39, but provide the city enough money to do all the upgrades to the city’s water sources.
Before the city decides on the increased water rate, the council agreed to have a workshop session on the city’s water needs in the near future.
