Bath Council moves forward with water rate increase and second pipe project

The Town of Bath Council passed the first reading of an ordinance that will set a flat rate of $8.77 for each 1,000 gallons of water used beyond the first 6,000 gallons per billing cycle.

Ordinance 2008-01, Water Rate Charges Increase, was passed unanimously by council at the Tuesday, April 15 meeting.

The ordinance includes a capacity improvement fee for new service. The monies collected by this fee will be placed in a separate fund to be used for increasing the capacity of the water plant.

The capacity improvement fee rate schedule starts at $2,000 for standard service and ranges higher depending on meter size.

The ordinance raises the tap fee from $577.50 to $650 for ordinary connection to the water system (3/4 inch pipe or smaller). Installation of larger pipe sizes will be billed the greater of $650 or at actual cost.

Public fire protection hydrants will be billed at $10.30 each hydrant per quarter.

Private fire protection service lines to hydrants, sprinkler systems and hose connections will be billed according to pipe size, with a one inch pipe costing $37.50 per quarter, and ranging up to $165 for an eight inch service connection.

The ordinance also includes a non-refundable set up fee of $50 to be paid at the time of application for water service.

Leak adjustments will be billed at $1, up from 75