1-14-2024 11:51pm

DWWD Hosts Discussion on Proposed Water Rate Increase on Tuesday, Jan. 16th

Darlene Cancell Editor

A discussion of the proposal for a 6.6 percent increase in 2024 drinking water rates for customers of the Dedham-Westwood Water District (“DWWD” or “the District”) will take place at the next hybrid Board of Commissioners Meeting to be held in person and on Zoom on Tuesday, January 16th at 6:30 p.m.

The hybrid meeting is open to members of the public. Attendees can join remotely via Zoom at this link or in-person at the District Headquarters, 50 Elm Street, Dedham.

The proposed change in rate structure, if it takes effect, would increase two parts of the water bill - the monthly customer charge (i.e., the fixed charge) and the consumption charge (i.e., charge based on usage).

First, the monthly charge for a typical 5/8" residential customer would increase 61 cents, from $9.31 to $9.92.

Secondly, the consumption charge for the average Westwood household of three people, using an average of 62 gallons per capita per day or 5,580 gallons per month (i.e., 746 cubic feet per month), would increase by about $2.53.

Adding up the increased monthly and consumption charges together, the approximate monthly bill increase for the average Westwood household of three people would be $3.14.

Putting it another way, under Westwood Minute’s
calculations, the average Westwood household of three people that currently pays $47.36 a month in water service charges, would pay approximately $50.50 a month under the proposed rate increase.

In its announcement of the upcoming public discussion on the proposed rate increase, DWWD gives a different example of a residential household customer at a lower level of consumption of 6.5 hundred cubic feet. Equating to 4,862 gallons per month, for a customer with this lower usage, DWWD estimates an approximate $2.82 monthly bill increase.

Rates are also proposed to increase for commercial customers by the same amount as residential customers in consumption charges. The monthly fixed charge would also increase for commercial customers, with the amount of increase depending on size of meter.

“This year’s rate increase is attributed to the ever-changing effects of inflation,” said Executive Director Blake Lukis. “Our day-to-day business costs have continued to rise. We’ve especially seen significant increases for electricity and water treatment chemicals,” he said. Inflation and costs of electricity and water were also previously cited by Mr. Lukis as reasons for the District's rate increase last year.

The rate structure, proposed to take effect next year is shown in the below charts and attachment: