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By Wilfred Mbah

On May 15, at 6pm, Somerville city officials will hold a public hearing on proposed hefty rate increases – water rates by 12.6% for water and 18.75% for sewerage. The hearing will be at the Central Library, with a Zoom option.

Part of this increase is due to assessment increases by the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA), a public authority established by the state to provide clean water and non-polluting wastewater for 61 municipalities.

But in addition to the MWRA assessment, Somerville’s Water Department is authorized to add increases for its operations, improvements, and expansion of services.  It is important for us to find out the cost breakdown for these double-digit increases. At a time when so many folks are struggling to afford increased costs for housing and food, this added expense will be a hardship for many.

Fortunately, there are options to minimize the local hikes, for instance:

Ask for Developer Contributions. Much of the demand for increased capacity – particularly for wastewater treatment – is driven by new development. Many cities require developers to pay special assessments to defray the costs of providing service to new users. Does Somerville ask developers to pay assessments in the midst of our building boom?

Establish a Residential Exemption. Somerville already has the power to give homeowners a rate break. Former Councilor Bill White initiated a special law for Somerville, to authorize a residential exemption on water/sewer rates. The Legislature approved this measure and passed it into law. Applying this exemption would provide relief for Somerville homeowners.

Enforcement of Unlawful Connections. We have laws which prohibit unlawful connections into public sewers, and discharges of storm water from roofs and water from sump pumps onto public ways.  Yet walk around after a rainstorm, and you’ll see gutters, downspouts, and pump-outs pouring water onto our sidewalks and streets. We need to find alternative ways to handle these discharges; they are a big part of what is driving the increase in MWRA assessments.

Attend (or tune into) the May 15 hearing, find out what’s driving these cost increases, and let your voice be heard.