By Anna Gustafson
An impending double-digit water rate increase would prove to be a serious financial blow to Queens residents, according to elected officials and residents who urged the Water Board to reconsider the hike at a meeting in Jamaica last week.
The Jamaica Hill Community Association, state Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) and City Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) sponsored the meeting with the city Department of Environmental Preservation April 20 at Edison High School to discuss the proposal to increase water rates by 12.9 percent come July 1.
This move proposed by the Water Board, which regulates the city’s water distribution system run by the DEP, would raise the water bill for an average family to $816 annually and the bill for an average apartment to $513 annually, according to Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck).
“The city is using the Water Board as its personal piggy bank, charging homeowners rates that exceed the actual cost of running our water system and then pocketing the difference,” Lancman said.
Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway, who attended last week’s meeting, explained the increase represents an additional $8 a month for the average single-family unit and an increase of $5 for the average apartment. Holloway stressed the 12.9 percent hike reflects the amount of additional funding the DEP needs to cover debt service and operational expenses.
“Clearly it is hard on customers to pay more, especially during tough economic times,” Holloway said in a statement. “Still, we must continue to fund critical projects that protect our drinking water and effectively treat the 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater that New Yorkers produce every day. New York City’s water is safe, healthy and high in quality. Keeping it that way requires substantial investments, many legally mandated, that must be paid for over many years.”
Holloway also stressed residents could receive a discount by using a debit card to pay for their water bills — something that Jamaica Hill Community Association President Deborah Ayala said is positive. But she said there needs to be further discounts.
“What about a green discount?” Ayala said. “DEP, where’s your environmentally conscious mind about incentives for homeowners? What about senior citizens’ discounts? They tend to be more conservative in their water use.”
Gennaro said he hopes to see the proposed rate decrease and Weprin held a news conference last week to denounce the hike. Weprin said he wants a change in the structure of the city Water Board, which is comprised strictly of mayoral appointees.
“It is time to take Water Board control from the hands of the mayor and put an end to years of unnecessary water rate increases,” Weprin said.
Weprin has proposed including board member appointments from various city offices and establishing term limits for board members.
Holloway told residents that the DEP will put $335 million into sewer upgrades for the borough, including $43.5 million in Whitestone. He added the city will conduct a study of Utopia Parkway to prepare the area for sewer upgrades.
Reach reporter Anna Gustafson by e-mail at agustafson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
