STARKVILLE — Water and sewer rates are likely rising for city users, with sewer becoming the more expensive of the two.

During a board of aldermen work session Friday morning, Starkville Utilities General Manager Edward Kemp presented a long-range capital improvement plan that needs at least $2 million in additional sewer revenue and $1 million in additional water revenue each year to fund.

To raise that money, Kemp is asking aldermen to approve raising the base monthly rate for water by $2.50 and the base rate for sewer by $4.75. The variable rate, charged for monthly usage of more than 1,000 gallons, would rise 50 cents for water and $2 for sewer.

Right now, customers pay a base rate of $6 and a variable rate of $4.50 for both water and sewer.

“What we’re seeing is the cost of what we need for capital improvements for wastewater is more than what we need for water,” Kemp told The Dispatch on Friday afternoon.

He also expects data Starkville Utilities is gathering on its system will show it costs more to process wastewater through its system than it does water.

If approved Tuesday, the new base water rate would be $8.50 for the first 1,000 gallons and $5 for each additional 1,000 gallons. For sewer, the base rate would become $10.75 with a variable rate of $6.50.

Jason Barrett, a water and wastewater specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, estimated the average bill for a customer using 3,000 gallons of water per month would increase by $11.68. For a 4,000-gallon user, it would increase by $13.85. Kemp told The Dispatch the average household uses about 2,800 gallons per month.

Starkville Utilities asked Extension to develop a model for rate increases based on its revenue needs for capital improvement, Kemp said.

“The main message we’re trying to convey to the board is this is a proactive approach,” Kemp said. “… It’s imperative we stay ahead of capacity and make sure what we have is working as reliably and efficiently as possible.”

Starkville Utilities last increased water and sewer rates in 2022.

Capital improvements

On the sewer side, Kemp said, Starkville Utilities is working most immediately toward an $8.9 million project to replace six aerators at its wastewater treatment plant that failed in 2019. The city has roughly half the money for that project in hand through city, county and state American Rescue Plan Act funds, and Mayor Lynn Spruill believes that work can be finished by the end of 2025.

The city also has litigation pending against several companies they allege were involved in installing the faulty equipment.

In the next three to five years, Kemp said, new headworks should be installed, at an estimated $6 million price tag, which will allow further system capacity growth.

Several water upgrades are planned in the short-to-moderate term, including replacing aging water lines and upgrading water treatment facilities. The “big ticket item” in the plan, Kemp said, is a new $3 million production well.

Spruill told The Dispatch she believes the plan makes sense, noting some of the water and sewer lines Starkville Utilities maintains are more than 60 years old.

“I’m obviously in the mode of being the best we can be… with our infrastructure,” Spruill said. “I understand it’s not sexy. It’s not above ground. People don’t see it. But if you don’t have the basic infrastructure of water and sewer, then you’re neglecting one of your primary duties as a government.”

Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.

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