The Romeo Observer - Romeo, Michigan: Northern Macomb County's weekly newspaper since 1866

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CURTIS OSTRANDER	DUAINE HARDING
ELEANOR TODD	ELMER "BUD" HAHN
GERVASE KILEY	MARIAN SUTTON
ORLO KIRKUM	SLAVA KOKOTOVICH
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Washington to receive water rate increase

by MICHELLE TANGUAY
Observer News Editor

      A double digit water rate increase from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has Washington Township officials planning a campaign to educate residents on water usage.
       The township's rate for 2007-08 jumped to $23.89 per 1,000 cubic feet, a nearly 22 percent increase from the 2006-07 rate of $19.61.
       The Detroit City Council approved the rates last month.
       Supervisor Gary Kirsh said the increase, among the highest given by the Detroit department, is due primarily to the township's peak water usage.
       "The problem is we have such a high water use at peak times," Kirsh said.
       He said the peak usage is applied to the rate formula three different times. On the date the city of Detroit chose to record peak usage in all of the communities it serves, the township used 4.5 million gallons of water, Kirsh said. He said in a normal day, 1.5 million gallons would be used in the township.
       "We're looking at programs and a plan that encourage people to use less water and use it more sensibly," Kirsh said.
       One possibility would be to make the voluntary odd/even watering restriction mandatory. In prior years, residents have been urged to observe the restriction but it has not been enforced.
       "If we use water more sensibly, we can reduce that peak," he said.
       He said he hopes to introduce the campaign late this month or in early May in time for the summer watering season.
       While Washington received an increase, the Village of Romeo received a 1.2 percent decrease in its rate. The rate will drop to $11.73 per 1,000 cubic feet, down from the 2006-07 figure of $11.87. The village's industrial district has Detroit water service.
       Village Clerk Marian McLaughlin is pleased with the decrease but said any increases the village has received in the past have been "minimal at best."
       "Nobody has any outrageous bills out there," she said.
       McLaughlin said there are 84 water customers in the industrial district.
       The rate changes will take effect July 14 and will be reflected in bills issued after Aug. 1.
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