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Decaying system will continue to hike cost of county water
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Related Topics: Montgomery and Prince George's counties
Montgomery and Prince George's counties (Map, News) - A political standoff that ended in another hefty water rate increase for Montgomery and Prince George's county residents but no long-term plan to repair the "decaying" system will cost residents much more in the years to come, the outgoing leader of the utility said.
Andy Brunhart, whose last day as general manager of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission was Thursday, said the commissioners' decision to avoid a monthly fee conveyed the message that "decaying infrastructure is acceptable to the governing body" of the WSSC.
"This is what the governing body's actions will communicate regardless of words of rationalization, regardless of words that attempt to delay the process, regardless of maneuvering, regardless of words that seek to put off a decision until later ... to next year ... or to the next year ... or to the year after that," Brunhart said.
Washington Suburban Sanitary commissioners approved an 8 percent increase in water rates this week, compared to last year's 6.5 percent increase, that will translate to a roughly $44 annual increase for residents of both counties.
They did not agree on any infrastructure renewal fee that would have been designated for pipe replacement efforts, although commissioners from both counties had approved the concept in December. All three Prince George's commissioners opposed the idea during votes this week, saying the fee, which in various plans ranged from $12 to $20 a month, would disproportionately harm seniors and lower-income families.
In a previous day of voting, water representatives were deadlocked, with votes splitting 3-3 along county lines.
Prince George's WSSC Commissioner Prem Agarwal, who eventually broke a deadlock by voting with Montgomery representatives for the approved budget, said the different demographics of the counties make compromise a challenge.
Officials from both counties expressed frustration with the process and the obvious difference in priorities between their representatives.
"Obviously we had differences, but it is what it is now, and we'll continue to work on the process," said Patrick Lacefield, spokesman for Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett.
Getting soaked
In 2007, The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, which serves Montgomery and Prince George's counties, serviced 2,129 water main breaks and leaks. That's the highest number of any year. An aging system seems to be to blame.
The system includes more than 5,500 miles of mains.
1,300 are more than 50 years old
2,400 miles of pipes are between 25 and 50 years old
Comments from Examiner Readers
9:54 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 24, 2008 re: "Sewage, water rates to rise in Baltimore County"
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Johnny Apple seed said:
State law superseids County. Enforce the State No building moratoriums within 200 feet of sewage and all wataerways, without permit and I will gladly pay more for water, period. OCD
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NTD said:
“Much of this work has been neglected and has to be done all at once,” Well then maybe we should take all of the cost for their neglect out of the paychecks of those who failed to do their job in the first place. So essentially they got paid for not doing their job, but now the taxpayers have to pay more for someting that should have been done already? Start with Jim Smith and the director of Public Works
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Examiner Reader said:
And this is why things should not be just passed off with the "we'll get to it later" mentality. Now we'll pay more for water and electricity due to short sightedness of those that are in charge. Don't wait til it breaks to fix it, take some initiative and do preventative work.
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joep said:
Here we go agaim!
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Examiner Reader said:
Goverment people don't know how to fix a pipe.They can't do anything right! They are mean !
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joek said:
I live in Federal Hill and have been seeing broken mains and pipes spouting water like Old Faithful daily for the last two months. Check out the constant flow of hundreds of gallons per minute at William and West streets! Is this rate hike to pay for their incompetence at not knowing how to fix a pipe in the first place?
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm tired of the only discounts and assistance programs going to those who earn less than $25,000. It is those of us that earn between$25,000 and $80,000 that are hit hardest and struggling with oppressive debt. A person earning less than $25,000 is less likely to have a mortgage, a high BGE bill with no opportunity for asistance, or a car payment coupled with the exorbitant gas prices that must be used every day to go back and forth to work, etc. Not to mention the city's ridiculessly high property taxes and vehicle insurance.
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Examiner Reader said:
It never ends ! Every day they find new ways to steal our hard earned dollars.What a shameful bunch of greedy power hungry People ! They are mean !
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