Rate Changes:

Several changes have been made to our rate structure and collection procedures. The changes are described below. Click here for a full listing of our rates and charges.

Current Rate Structure:

The Board of Water Commissioners voted to not increase water rates on March 19, 2008. The new rates take effect after your May 2006 bill. There are five types of charges in the current rate structure - water usage rates, service fees, connection fees, cross connection fees, fire sprinkler fees and miscellaneous charges.

Water Use Rates:

Water use is billed on an increasing block rate structure - the more water that is used the more expensive it gets. This type of rate structure is designed to promote water conservation.

Billing Frequency	Base Usage Period	Tier	Usage in Period	Price per thousand gallons
Monthly	One Month	I	1,000 to 4,000	$4.65
		II	4,001 to 8,000	$5.70
		III	8,001 or greater	$8.00
Quarterly	Three Months	I	1,000 to 12,000	$4.65
		II	12,001 to 24,000	$5.70
		III	24,001 or greater	$8.00
Semiannually	Six Months	I	1,000 to 24,000	$4.65
		II	24,001 to 48,000	$5.70
		III	48,001 or greater	$8.00

Calculating the amount of your bill is accomplished by working your way through the tiers. For example, if you are a semiannual customer and used 50,000 gallons in six months then you would be charged for 24,000 gallons at $4.65 per thousand, 24,000 gallons at $5.70 per thousand and 2,000 gallons at $8.00 per thousand.

Late Fees:

The Board voted to charge late fees as a percentage of the late amount. A late fee will be charged to accounts that have not paid their balance within 30-days of the date of the last billing. The fee will be 5% of the outstanding balance, not to exceed $25, for balances greater than $100. An additional fee will be charted to the account if payment is not made within 60-days of the bill date. The fee will be 10% of the outstanding balance, not to exceed $50.00, for balances greater than $100.00

Service Fees:

A fixed $12.50 service fee is charged to each active account in May and November. The fee is used to offset some of our fixed costs that are incurred regardless of your water consumption. For example, each year we need to produce a water quality report, read your meter, produce a bill and provide water to your parcel even if you do not use it.

Connection Fees:

Each new connection to the water system is charged a connection fee of $750.

Cross Connection Fees:

The Water Department is required by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to eliminate nonpotable connections to our water system.. Click here for more information about what a cross connection is and the risks they cause a water system.

Customers that have cross connections are required to remove the connection or to install backflow devices to prevent our system from being contaminated. Certian classes of backflow devices must be tested on an annual or semiannual basis. Cross connection fees are designed to offset the costs incurred by the Water Department for the adminstration and testing of backflow devices.

Fire Sprinkler Fees:

Fire sprinkler fees are charged to customers that have dedicated fire sprinkler services.

Miscellaneous Charges:

This group of charges cover a large number of items. It includes turning water on and off, replacing cellar valves, thawing frozen services, replacing frozen meters and new connection fees.