Worcester opposes state's proposed water regs, saying ratepayers could get soaked
By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
nkotsopoulos@telegram.com
nkotsopoulos@telegram.com
WORCESTER — The city is teaming up with the local business community to oppose a state proposal that would regulate the amount of water municipalities and water districts can draw from reservoirs and wells.
Under the regulations proposed by the state Department of Environmental Protection, the city would not be able to withdraw from its reservoirs more than 24 million gallons per day.
The proposed benchmark set by DEP was what the city's water use was back in 1985.
Currently, the city draws about 22.5 million gallons of water per day from its reservoirs, which have the capacity of safely providing up to 30 million gallons per day, according to Paul J. Moosey, commissioner of public works and parks.
If the city exceeds the 24 million gallon cap, then it would trigger a permitting process for it to be able to draw additional water that would come at an additional cost to ratepayers, Mr. Moosey said.
Mayor Joseph M. Petty said the regulations could add as much as $200 to $300 to the annual bill for the average residential ratepayer.
"It never stops, I guess," Mr. Petty said in reference to the costly water and sewer permits the city has had to deal with.
"As far as I can tell, these regulations pretty much aren't needed. The city of Worcester has a pretty good track record with environmental concerns. But now we are looking at having to implement something that will have a negative effect on the people of Worcester."
Mr. Moosey said the draft regulations incorporate concepts and approaches devised through the Sustainable Water Management Initiative that the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs came out with in late 2009.
He said they are state regulations that do not involve the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and would apply to all communities, like Worcester, that hold Water Management Act permits.
"The proposed regulations will alter future permits by imposing additional demands on water systems with a supposed goal of reducing impacts to streams and improving streamflow for aquatic creatures," Mr. Moosey wrote in a report taken up by the City Council Tuesday night.
"The added requirements upon communities will result in higher water rates, less reliable water systems, uncertainty about water availability for new growth and the diversion of limited local ratepayer funds from needed water system improvements to projects and programs that will provide little, if any, benefit to the water system and its customers," he added. "Even with all these added impositions on communities, there is little evidence that real and substantial environmental improvement will be derived."
Mr. Moosey acknowledged that water use in the city has steadily declined during the past decade, thanks in large part to conservation measures.
But he said his concern is about the future and what could happen if there is enough growth in the city to exceed the cap of 24 million gallons of water per day.
Mr. Moosey said that could force the city to stop selling water to neighboring towns and water districts. He said city water users benefit from those sales because the revenue received from other towns is used to keep down the water rate for city users.
He said he is also concerned about whether such a restriction could limit future development in the city.
"We're not at the cap but we're not a ways away from it," Mr. Moosey told the council. "My concern is that down the road this can be a serious problem."
Mr. Moosey said the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce has also taken up the issue and has been vocal at the state level regarding the impact of continuous increases to local water and sewer rate on businesses and residents.
City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said this is an opportunity for the city to be heard on the regulations and he promised it would be heard.
"It's not the end of the world, but we should let folks know of the potential impact," he said. "We don't want to sound alarm bells; we just want the opportunity to be heard."
Mr. Petty said he intends to address the matter with local state legislators so they are on the same page as the city and the local business community.
"We're not a rich city by any means," the mayor said. "To add these regulations on, we could see homeowners pay up to $2,000 a year in water and sewer fees within a few years and a lot of people won't be able to afford that."
Contact Nick Kotsopoulos at nicholas.kotsopoulos@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @NCKotsopoulos
Under the regulations proposed by the state Department of Environmental Protection, the city would not be able to withdraw from its reservoirs more than 24 million gallons per day.
The proposed benchmark set by DEP was what the city's water use was back in 1985.
Currently, the city draws about 22.5 million gallons of water per day from its reservoirs, which have the capacity of safely providing up to 30 million gallons per day, according to Paul J. Moosey, commissioner of public works and parks.
If the city exceeds the 24 million gallon cap, then it would trigger a permitting process for it to be able to draw additional water that would come at an additional cost to ratepayers, Mr. Moosey said.
Mayor Joseph M. Petty said the regulations could add as much as $200 to $300 to the annual bill for the average residential ratepayer.
"It never stops, I guess," Mr. Petty said in reference to the costly water and sewer permits the city has had to deal with.
"As far as I can tell, these regulations pretty much aren't needed. The city of Worcester has a pretty good track record with environmental concerns. But now we are looking at having to implement something that will have a negative effect on the people of Worcester."
Mr. Moosey said the draft regulations incorporate concepts and approaches devised through the Sustainable Water Management Initiative that the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs came out with in late 2009.
He said they are state regulations that do not involve the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and would apply to all communities, like Worcester, that hold Water Management Act permits.
"The proposed regulations will alter future permits by imposing additional demands on water systems with a supposed goal of reducing impacts to streams and improving streamflow for aquatic creatures," Mr. Moosey wrote in a report taken up by the City Council Tuesday night.
"The added requirements upon communities will result in higher water rates, less reliable water systems, uncertainty about water availability for new growth and the diversion of limited local ratepayer funds from needed water system improvements to projects and programs that will provide little, if any, benefit to the water system and its customers," he added. "Even with all these added impositions on communities, there is little evidence that real and substantial environmental improvement will be derived."
Mr. Moosey acknowledged that water use in the city has steadily declined during the past decade, thanks in large part to conservation measures.
But he said his concern is about the future and what could happen if there is enough growth in the city to exceed the cap of 24 million gallons of water per day.
Mr. Moosey said that could force the city to stop selling water to neighboring towns and water districts. He said city water users benefit from those sales because the revenue received from other towns is used to keep down the water rate for city users.
He said he is also concerned about whether such a restriction could limit future development in the city.
"We're not at the cap but we're not a ways away from it," Mr. Moosey told the council. "My concern is that down the road this can be a serious problem."
Mr. Moosey said the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce has also taken up the issue and has been vocal at the state level regarding the impact of continuous increases to local water and sewer rate on businesses and residents.
City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said this is an opportunity for the city to be heard on the regulations and he promised it would be heard.
"It's not the end of the world, but we should let folks know of the potential impact," he said. "We don't want to sound alarm bells; we just want the opportunity to be heard."
Mr. Petty said he intends to address the matter with local state legislators so they are on the same page as the city and the local business community.
"We're not a rich city by any means," the mayor said. "To add these regulations on, we could see homeowners pay up to $2,000 a year in water and sewer fees within a few years and a lot of people won't be able to afford that."
Contact Nick Kotsopoulos at nicholas.kotsopoulos@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @NCKotsopoulos
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