People in Deep River facing steep yearly increases in their water and sewer bills will find no relief in a long-awaited review of the town’s utility rate study.
The review, which was presented to town council last week, forecasts sharp increases in water and sewer rates for the foreseeable future.
Council approved the original rate study, prepared by Watson and Associates Economists, back in 2021.
The consulting firm based the steep projected rate increases for water and sewer bills, leading up to 2030, on the need to move towards full-cost replacement value (lifecycle costs) of the town’s water and wastewater assets.
The study forecast residential water and sewer rates to rise by a combined 8.4 percent annually in 2022 and 2023, and then by 7.3 percent for the three-year period beginning in 2024, followed by seven percent increases a year from 2027 to 2030.
The combined 7.3 percent in 2025 saw homeowners in Deep River paying $1,630 for water and sewer services, and they’re increasing by 7.3 percent again this year, to $1,749.
The review presented to council last week forecasts that same annual 7.3 percent rate increase for the next six years, bringing water and sewer bills up to $2,663 by 2032.
By 2035, are projected to reach $2,909.
Peter Simcisko, a managing partner with Watson and Associates, cautioned council last week those rate increases aren’t carved in stone.
“There’s a lot of moving parts to this, and things change over time,” he said, citing factors such as population growth and new development in town…
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