Dartmouth utility rates will increase beginning Monday, July 1 and could grow over the next decade in an effort to maintain operating costs and support future projects said to be vital to both water and sewer infrastructure.

At its Thursday, June 20 meeting, the Board of Public Works set the new rates, with water increasing by 7.5% and sewer by 8.5%.

The rates were determined following the first phase of the Department of Public Works’ efficiency study, completed by planning firms Weston and Sampson as well as the Abrahams Group.

Weston and Sampson representative Ben Rollins said the main goals of the study were to generate enough income to support high priority water and sewer projects and save money.

“The town can’t really stay stagnant with its capital improvements,” Rollins said. “It’s better to be proactive with planning and funding for capital improvements projects [rather than be] reactive to emergency situations.”

If the board had chosen to keep rates the same going forward, the department’s budget would not be able to sustain itself with operating expenses alone, Rollins said. 

The average residential family will see their semi-annual water bill increase by $20 beginning in July and could increase by as much as $121 during the first five-year span of the plan, according to Rollins.

However, Rollins recommended reevaluating the study when setting future rates as the town is not locked into this plan.

The plan’s projected increase over the next decade could allow the town to borrow approximately $22 million for several water projects, including the Route 6 water main replacement and raw water main improvements.

Like water rates, if the board had chosen to keep the rates the same for sewer going forward, the budget would not be able to sustain itself. 

The average residential family will see their semi-annual sewer bill increase $22 in July and could increase by as much as $132 during the first five-year span of the plan, according to Rollins.

The plan’s projected increase over the next decade could allow for several sewer projects, including a Water Pollution Control Facility upgrade evaluation and $50 million for its anticipated construction.

At a Monday, June 17 Select Board meeting, board member Heidi Silva Brooks said these are “real” capital projects that need to happen, and “I don’t want to wait. I want to move on this.”

However, Brooks said the town should be confident in its decisions before it acts.

Select Board member Shawn McDonald said this issue is partially the town’s fault for keeping rates low for so long and not taking action sooner.

“I’m not saying the roosters have come home to roost,” he said, “but you can hear them crowing.”