November 10, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Mahwah Residents present council with water bill complaints by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Township Council has received several complaints from residents about the increase in their water bills, and responded at a recent public meeting. Susanne Walsh of Kiersted Place said she was speaking on behalf of a lot of residents who have seen a large increase in their water bills and are very concerned. She said she has seen a 100 percent increase in her water bill from October 2009 to October 2010, when her usage doubled even though she now has fewer people in her household. Several council members tried to explain why some residents have seen increases in their water bills. Council President John DaPuzzo emphasized that there was a 15 percent increase in the water rates in 2010. He said he did not see how she could have a 100 percent increase in her bill unless she used more water. DaPuzzo explained that there was no ban on water use this summer. He said that, in the summer, there is a surcharge because all water in New Jersey is owned by the state and, to get its allocation of water, the township is required to limit its water use. That is done by charging more for water use in the summer, DaPuzzo said. He also pointed out that the township’s water rate per 1,000 gallons is lower than that charged by United Water NJ. Councilman John Roth emphasized that there has been no water rate increase in the township for the past 10 years because there was a surplus, but water rates had to be increased in 2009 because of the water projects that will be needed over the next five to seven years. He said the township must make sure the water department stays solvent. “We have one of the lowest water rates of the surrounding towns,” he added. Mahwah Township Administrator Brian Campion explained that the municipality had a significant surplus of $8 million which allowed the council to avoid raising the water rate for 10 years by using the surplus if expenses were greater than revenues. He said the surplus is now down to $2 to $3 million and it is necessary to balance revenues and expenses. DaPuzzo added that the township could have raised its water rate by four to five percent per year over the last 10 years, but then some residents might have asked why there was a rate increase when there was a surplus. He suggested that Walsh check the water meter in her house when all the water is shut off to see if the needle is moving, which would indicate a leak in her system. “There’s got to be a reason why your usage doubled,” DaPuzzo said. In May 2009, the council adopted an ordinance to raise the water rates paid by all residents and commercial property owners. Under that ordinance, the minimum user of less than 1,000 cubic feet of water per quarter had to pay an increase of $1.70 per month to $89 per year, which represented an increase of $20. The average user who uses 5,000 cubic feet, or 37,405 gallons of water per quarter, saw experienced a rate increase of $18 per month to $550 per year, which represents an increase of $215. Under the new rate structure, the $21 minimum quarterly charge for a one-family residential dwelling that uses up to 1,000 cubic feet of water per quarter was increased to $23 in 2010 and $27 in 2011. In addition to the minimum rate charge, all classes of users are subject to an additional cost for water use above the minimum 1,000 cubic feet of use. Users of between 1,001 to 35,000 cubic feet of water had to pay $2.68 per 100 cubic feet above the minimum use in 2009; $2.95 per 100 cubic feet in 2010; and $3.39 per 100 cubic feet in 2011. Users of over 35,000 cubic feet had to pay $3.21 per 100 cubic feet over the minimum use in 2009; $3.53 per 100 cubic feet in 2010; and $4.06 per 100 cubic feet in 2011. The summer use surcharge applies to a full billing cycle quarter between May 1 and Sept. 30 of each year, but that surcharge rate now applies to all three tiers of use. In 2009, that additional charge was 18 cents per 100 cubic feet of water use up to 1,000 (continued on page 15) VETERANS AND SENIORS! JOIN US ON WED., NOV. 10TH AT PARK PLACE FOR A SPECIAL SEMINAR ABOUT “ASSISTANCE WITH PAYING FOR LONG TERM CARE” 7PM - 8PM 644 GOFFLE ROAD, HAWTHORNE RSVP (973) 636-7000 THE BARNERT TEMPLE SISTERHOOD Sunday, November 14 • 9am-4pm Over 40 Booths • Many New Vendors Exciting Merchandise • Babysitting Dining at our Onsite Café • Free Parking Visa/Mastercard Accepted Barnert Temple 747 Route 208 South • Franklin Lakes, NJ New York Shopping Without the Hassle! 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