FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE06-17a
April
15, 2006
Contact:
Charles G. Sturcken
(718) 595-6600
Statement
of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection
on Water Rate Proposal
On Friday, April 7, the New York Water Board met and proposed
an average increase of $4.48 a month for a single-family home and
an average increase of $3.80 a month per unit in a multiple-unit
family home. Even if this proposed increase were to go into
effect, the annual water and sewage charges for single-family home
would be less than the average of 23 major cities in the United
States. New Yorkers pay less than $2 for 750 gallons of water.
Hearings about this proposed adjustment of 9.4 percent will be
held around the five boroughs May 1 – 3rd.
While New York City operates the largest municipal drinking water
and sewer system in the United States, it is still subject to some
basic laws of economics. It takes a large amount of energy both
to move clean drinking water through the five boroughs and to operate
our sewage plants. Significantly higher costs for electricity
and fuel are being reflected in this proposed adjustment. So,
too, legally-required mandates to improve our systems and construction
projects to make sure we continue to have a safe and clean water
supply are resulting in higher costs and Friday’s revision
of earlier projections on water and sewer rates for Fiscal Year
2007.
By far the biggest problem that is causing this proposed increase
are the deadbeat homeowners who don’t pay their water bills. It
is fundamentally unfair that under the current system of governance,
hard-working families that play by the rules have to pay higher
water rates to cover for their neighbors who don’t pay their
bills. We would like to work with the City Council to create
a strong enforcement mechanism that includes water liens, so the
authorities have the ability to go after delinquents who don’t
pay their water bills like they already go after people who don’t
pay their property tax bills.