Water Rates to Increase Again This Summer

The price of water is going to go up this summer — again.

The , which supplies water to Harrison, the Town of Mamaroneck, the Village of Mamaroneck and parts of other communities, is bracing for another water rate increase from the New York City Water Board.

Early estimates are about 12 percent, but based on last year's sudden spike, the final number could be higher.

The New York City Water Board has until July 1 to set it's rate. Last spring they estimated their rate increase at 13 percent, according to Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh who sits on the WJWW board, but increased 25 percent in July.

"We are telling them you have to tell us ahead of time," said Walsh, stressing that the WJWW board is working to keep any rate increases minimal, while staying away from debt.

Since the WJWW buys its water from New York City, an increase in their rates will inevitably lead to a rate increase for Harrison residents if costs are to be covered. It is not known at this time how much water rates will increase locally, but recently rate increases have been comparable to those handed down by the New York City Water Board.

In 2009, when water rates from New York City increased only two percent, rates were upped locally nine percent. Last summer, when the cost of buying water increased 25 percent, and local bills increased .

Treating the water, pipe maintenance and labor are the biggest added expenses, but those costs have little affect on the final cost for homeowners, Walsh said. But more thorough maintenance of water pipes is scheduled for this summer, which will add to the WJWW's expenses. 

Fortunately for Harrison's residents last summer's increases were not as substantial as those in the Village of Mamaroneck where rates . Last year Walsh cited a reluctance in the past to up water prices as a reason for the sudden increase. The Town of Mamaroneck's prices increased only slightly because they had been adding to their rates slowly over time.

The unpredictability of the weather also hasn't helped matters. Water consumption increased during last year's , which led to Harrison going over it's allotted water usage amount and paying more. The year before not enough water was used, driving up debt within the WJWW. That debt played a role in the 28 percent increase, as the WJWW was working out of a $1.7 million hole.

Last year authorities said erasing that debt would create a "pay as you go" rate plan. But with water rates increasing at the source this year, paying as you go could be just as costly.