MANCHESTER – Not the most welcome news to come out during the holiday season but municipal sewer and water rates in the eastern and western service areas will be going up in the new year.
Director of Public Works Al Yodakis made a presentation during a recent Township Council meeting explaining why this was necessary and what the fee increase would be.
Yodakis discussed a rate study that was done that ultimately led to a recommendation for an increase. “I know that is not great news however our utility has not seen a rate increase in 12 and 13 years in the eastern and western service areas.”
“We have two water and sewer systems in our town. One is the eastern service area of Manchester the other is the old Crestwood water system which is the western side of town known as Crestwood. They are separate utilities. They statutorily have to function separately,” he added.
Manchester Director of Public Works Al Yodakis gives a presentation about the rate hikes. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
That includes their budgets. “When you see different rates for the ESA and the WSA that is why. As a utility operator I would love it if they could be connected but we’re not there. Our rates have not increased in 12 years since we bought the Crestwood water system in 2010 and 13 years on this side of town,” Yodakis said.
“Our rates really should be analyzed every year and based on a capital plan,” Yodakis said. He then presented the capital plan. “We have had a kind of rolling capital plan but we have not taken a look at our rate increases which from my standpoint as a utility operator we really should be doing.”
“I understand previous council’s reluctance to do that but it is necessary. We need to be reinvesting in our water and sewer infrastructure,” he added.
Yodakis said he recently attended a water utility conference “and they said water and sewer are the only utilities you have that literally your health and welfare depend on. Your public drinking water is one of the most important things you are going to use in your life.”
Regarding challenges that the two entities are facing, Yodakis noted a presentation made prior to his concerning a proposed warehouse development and forthcoming residential development in Manchester. “That is continuing to come into town whether it is good or bad it’s a fact and we need to deal with that.”
He said as a result, “we have continual water usage requirements. Our cost of treatment continues to go up. Costs of everything are going up. Our cost of treatment for chemicals, chlorine, lime we add to the water – all those prices continue to increase.”
“We have PFOS and PFOR which are two new buzz words that were chemicals that were in everything at one point. They are going to become almost the new asbestos in our nation. They are going to be a real health concern,” he added.
Yodakis said, “we are currently treating one of our wells for them. We are treating them very effectively but that also comes at a cost and our infrastructure continues to age.”
He said Manchester’s infrastructure was in good shape compared to other areas where lead lined pipes are a problem. “We don’t have those concerns here.”
“What we do have is aging infrastructure. Our pipes have been in the ground for a long time and just like maintaining your vehicle you need to continue to put money into it or eventually, your entire vehicle is going to break.”
He also noted stringent regulations by the State Department of Environmental Protection and federal Environmental Protection Agency that are “difficult to meet. That is not necessarily a bad thing but all those things come at a cost.”
Existing and proposed rates were outlined during a PowerPoint presentation. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Yodakis said action plans would continue to pursue a water supply to “address our development concerns. We are planning on reactivating disabled wells and we are considering interconnections with Lakehurst and one with the Jackson MUA (Municipal Utilities Authority) hopefully at no cost to Manchester Township.”
“We currently have an interconnection with Toms River and we are planning to limit irrigation with development. That is not for anybody who has a sprinkler system but any new homes built in town – they will be required to be wells so they are not taking from our public water system,” Yodakis said, adding that grants were also going to be applied for.
He said that even with the increases which include connection fees for new structures, Manchester’s water fees would be lower than surrounding communities. “Our sewer rates are a flat rate.”
Business Administrator Carl Block said the fees are based on “cubic consumption.”
Yodakis described them as “relatively modest increases. Utility users would notice the increase in their second quarter bill of next year.
Ordinance 23-43 which authorized amending township code entitled water and sewer was unanimously approved.
Resident Hank Glen asked what his water and sewer bill that is $119 per quarter in a two-person household, would increase to be?
Yodakis responded it would be around $15 more.
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