COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – After a power point presentation and a question and answer session that lasted for over a half hour, the Coldwater City Council approved a request from the Board of Public Utilities Monday night to increase overall wastewater rates by nine percent.
CBPU Director Jeff Budd says the increased rates will help build cash reserves in order to fund improvements at the Water Resource Recovery Facility.
There would be no increase in water rates.
The CBPU Board of Directors approved the wastewater rate increase last week.
Budd says the facility, which was built in the early 1950’s, is starting to show its age and is requiring significant capital improvements.
The rate increase would go into effect August 1, 2019. The CBPU says it would cost the average residential customer an additional four dollars a month. The impact on commercial and industrial users would depend on usage.
According to Budd, the most pressing improvements are needed on the digestors and the capacity issue at the facility needs to be addressed in the near future.
Meanwhile, Budd says the facility has continued to provide a quality water effluent discharge to South Lake and is continuing to meet all the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality requirements.
