The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) Board of Directors is hosting a public hearing on the current proposed 7.5 percent rate increase for water and sewer services, which if adopted will become effective October 1, 2007.

The hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 13th at 6:30 p.m. at the Council of Governments located at 777 North Capitol Street, N.E. in the 1st floor training room.

If approved, the combined water and sewer rate would increase from $5.09 per hundred cubic feet (Ccf) to $5.47 per Ccf. In addition to this proposed increase, the Right of Way/Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) fee will increase from $0.44 per Ccf to $0.47 per Ccf. The District government charges these fees to WASA, and similar to other utilities, we pass this cost through as a separate line item on our bill. The typical residential customer’s monthly bill would increase by approximately $3.42 per month.

The WASA Board of Directors makes every effort to keep rates as low as reasonably possible. Modest increases, however, are necessary to support a $2.2 billion capital improvement program to maintain and upgrade the city’s vital water and sewer systems and to meet federally mandated water quality and environmental requirements.

Please plan to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about water and sewer operations in the District and how the money you pay for service is used. If you are interested in providing oral testimony, you may contact the Office of the Secretary (Board) at (202) 787-2330 or you may e-mail your request to Lmanley@dcwasa.com no later than 5 pm Tuesday, June 8, 2007