Water, sewer and solid waste rates to increase

Water and sewer rates will be increasing by 7.5% and 16% in response to rising costs. The Board of Public Works will postpone changing solid waste rates until they can better estimate the necessary percent increase. 

The original plan was to increase the solid waste budget by 15%, or $20. According to Town Administrator Cody Haddad, this would not cover costs and the town would still be in a deficit.  

Within these costs, the boards attempt to have 15% of the total collected rate go toward retained earnings. 

However, the town needs to buy a new recycling and trash vehicle every two years. They alternate between the two, and buy one truck a year. Without a higher percentage raise, they could not afford new trucks to maintain the fleet. Director of Finance Gary Carreiro said that Public Works should increase rates by at least $30. Otherwise, they may be forced to raise rates in the middle of the fiscal year to cover a deficit. 

The Board of Public Works voted unanimously to discuss the solid waste rates during their next meeting, and then discuss the decision with the Select Board during their Monday, Aug. 3 meeting. 

A major factor behind the water rate increase is the need to buy water from the city of New Bedford. Many of Dartmouth’s wells are out of commission, forcing the town to rely on other sources. 

Director of Public Works Tim Barber said that the city is raising their costs less than usual, but will be raising them 2.83%. However, this increase will not happen until after the New Bedford Water Board meeting in September. 

Barber stated that Public Works is looking into other means of water. If the town were to buy water from Fall River, the city agreed to give Dartmouth a drop rate. This would mean the town would pay a higher amount until they hit a certain threshold, when the rate would drop. 

If the town of Westport connected their water pipes to Fall River, Dartmouth could potentially connect. This would cost between $5 million and $6 million, but the town could apply for grants. 

Sewer rates will be increasing by 16%, mostly due to biosolid removal. The town currently collects the liquid waste, dries it, bakes and presses the biosolids then breaks it down into compost. The town then sells this compost for a slight profit.Public Works is looking into alternative methods for biosolids due to concerns that PFAS can contaminate the material, but the removal by transferring it somewhere else could cost $1.2 million dollars.

These rate increases will be reflected in the resident's next bills.