Parkersburg Utility Board Manager Eric Bennett provides an overview of the utility and its sanitary sewer system during a public meeting on a proposed sewer rate increase Wednesday in City Council chambers. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG – The manager of the Parkersburg Utility Board made his case for a proposed sewer rate increase Wednesday at a meeting primarily attended by Parkersburg City Council representatives and utility board members and staff.

Six members of council, who will ultimately vote on whether to approve the requested 18.47% increase to be phased in over four years, were among those listening as PUB Manager Eric Bennett outlined the history of the utility, upgrades and maintenance done over the years, why a rate increase is being sought and the projects for which it would help pay.

How much will it cost?

Figures are based on the monthly use of 3,400 gallons of water. Existing rates put that monthly cost at $40.39, based on a base customer charge of $17.44 and $6.75 per 1,000 gallons of water supplied.

If approved by council, the rate would increase on July 1 this year and the next three at the following rates:

Parkersburg Utility Board Manager Eric Bennett, left, answers a question from Parkersburg resident Cari Talarico, center top, during a public meeting on a proposed sewer rate increase Wednesday in City Council chambers. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

* Step 1 – Customer charge, $18.50; volume charge, $7 per 1,000 gallons; $42.30 for 3,400 gallons (increase of $1.91 or 4.73%)

* Step 2 – Customer charge, $19.50; volume charge, $7.25 per 1,000 gallons; $44.15 for 3,400 gallons (increase of $1.85 or 4.37%)

* Step 3 – Customer charge, $20.50; volume charge, $7.50 per 1,000 gallons; $46 for 3,400 gallons (increase of $1.85 or 4.19%)

* Step 4 – Customer charge, $21.50; volume charge, $7.75 per 1,000 gallons; $47.85 for 3,400 gallons (increase of $1.85 or 4.02%)

Bennett said the last step of the increase would still have customers paying less than their counterparts in the Claywood Park, Lubeck, Mineral Wells and Union Williams public service districts.

Parkersburg City Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl, right, asks a question during a public meeting on a proposed sewer rate increase Wednesday in council chambers as Parkersburg resident Cari Talarico listens. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“We’re well below most of them, even after our final proposed adjustment,” he said.

Sewer rates in Vienna and Williamstown are $30.94 and $32.43, respectively.

Why it’s needed

Council approved a rate increase for the water side of the utility in 2021, and the last step of it went into effect in 2024.

“Our last (sewer rate) increase was approved in 2014, and the last step went into effect in 2017,” Bennett said.

Meanwhile, water consumption has decreased as home appliances use less water and large customers have left the system, he said.

The bulk of the money raised by the increase would repay a bond the utility hopes to issue to pay for an estimated $26,363,100 project to replace two major lift stations with larger interceptor pipes at deeper elevations. That will reduce costs by eliminating the stations and increasing capacity, Bennett said.

But the utility cannot receive low-interest loans for the project, or grants for other efforts, if its rates, based on 3,400 gallons, aren’t above 1.5% of the area’s median household income, he said.

The minimum rate to meet that would be $47.42 a month, Bennett said in response to a question from Parkersburg resident Cari Talarico. The final amount in the proposed rate is 43 cents above that.

“We didn’t shoot for the moon,” Bennett said.

Still, Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl said she’s concerned about the impact on some residents.

“I have a lot of elderly people in my district that are on fixed incomes,” she said.

Bennett said the total increase on 3,400 gallons a month over the four years is $7.46 and noted that “most of the seniors use very little water” so their bills could be less.

“It’s pretty low,” he said. “But everybody’s got their opinion.”

What’s next?

The rate increase ordinance will go before council. No date has been set, but Bennett said he would like it to be considered in conjunction with legislation authorizing the interceptor project and approving the accompanying bond issue.

“What happens if the rate increase doesn’t pass?” Councilwoman Cathy Dailey asked.

Bennett said they wouldn’t be able to get the bond issue and couldn’t do other projects.

“A failed utility is not what you want,” he said.

Council can also opt to change the rate.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com