Higher water rates and fees for several Ellijay-Gilmer County Water and Sewerage Authority services are right around the corner.
The water authority will switch over to a higher rate/fee schedule July 1.
Among the increases are water and sewer rates for residential and commercial customers, as well as several fees including deposit transfer (from $25 to $50), new account (from $25 to $50), disconnect (from $25 to $50) and reconnect (from $50 to $75 during work hours, $100 to $150 after hours) charges.
For residential customers, the minimum water consumption charge will increase from $12.60 to $18. The minimum charge for residential sewer will increase from $10.50 to $16.
Additional water consumption will be priced at $3.49-$4.20 for each additional 1,000 gallons, while additional sewer will be priced at $4.94-$5.95 for each additional 1,000 gallons.
The minimum water charge for commercial customers will increase from $12.60 to $25, while the minimum commercial sewer charge will increase from $10.50 to $25. The same rates as residential customers will be applied to commercial customers for additional water and sewer use.
The new rate/fee schedule was approved by water board members Mike Gibbs, Hubert Parker, Billy Rowe, Tony Whitaker and Ricky Wimpey at the board’s April meeting.
Board chairman Gibbs said it will be the water authority’s first rate increase in nine years.
“The last one we had was in 2014,” he added.
McVey said higher material and supply costs, including chemicals and construction materials like pipe, is the main reason for the hikes.
“(It’s) all the inflationary increases we’re seeing,” he added.
The water authority will charge current fees up until 5 p.m. on Friday, June 30, McVey noted. The current charges for tap fees, impact fees and meter deposits have not been changed.
In other news …
The Cartecay Water Treatment Plant recently received its 15th consecutive Platinum Award from the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. The award recognizes that the plant stayed in compliance with its permitting and made no violations in 2022.
After a recent string of sewer spills at the wastewater treatment plant consisting of partially treated wastewater, a sign has been posted at the wastewater discharge flume where the plant discharges treated water into the Coosawattee River, per EPD requirements, McVey noted. No other signs will be put up along the river, he added.