Sewer and Water Fees Proposed to Rise

Deputy Director of Public Works Dave Kochendarfer spoke to council members Tuesday night in regards to an ordinance adjusting sewer and water availability and connection charges.

The proposed increase is to support funding for the upcoming obligation of $2.3 million in costs that is needed to fund plant improvements required by the Cheasapeake Bay Act.

The Blue Plains Waste Water Treatment Plant (BPWWTP), located in the Anacostia area of Washington D.C., is a regional source of sewage treatment for the D.C. area.

The total capacity of this plant is 370 million gallons per day (MGD) with a service population of 1.7 million people.

Herndon's maximum flow contribution, by agreement, is 3 MGD of which there is an average of 0.5 MGD capacity remaining.

Kochendarfer said Herndon's sewer system is 82 percent of maximum connection capacity leaving only 18 percent for future customers.

The CBA requires that effluent from sewerage treatment plants meet strict limits on pollutants that are negatively impacting the environment of the Cheasapeake Bay.

As a result,  Kochendarfer said that several projects have been planned at BPWWTP for the purposes of enhancing the treatment process and reducing sewage overflows.

The total cost to complete improvements is estimated to be $3.2 billion with a scheduled length of 10 years. Herndon's share would cost $13 million.

In order to afford the remaining balance Kochendarfer said an increase in availability and connection fees is currently the best funding option.

Kochendarfer proposed an increase in the residential sewer connection fees from $6,250 to $7,490, per single family or townhouse unit, as well as an increase in the drainage fixture unit (DFU) from $324 to $388.

Other adjustments included a proposed increase to the residential water connection fee from $4,200 to $4,863 and the supply fixture unit from $87 to $100.

Kochendarfer said the proposed increases will support funding for expenses realized by cost increases of $700,000 for water treatment plant expansion and capacity expansion of the town's pipe network water distribution system.

"We are looking at increases across the board here," Kochendarfer said, the largest increase being in sewer connection fees. "At this point in time increasing the fees should meet the obligation."

The ordinance will be open for public comment during the Town Council's public hearing next Tuesday.

Other items on the agenda for next week include:

• An ordinance amending the fiscal year 2011 adopted budget, which, if adopted, will increase the available appropriation for Phase II-B of the golf course master plan improvements by $86,800.

• An award of contract to The Kauffman Group, in the amount of $389,000 for the Herndon Centennial Golf Course Phase II-B improvements.

• A resolution authorizing the issuance, sale and award of general obligation refunding bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $3,500,000.

• A resolution appointing members to the Town of Herndon Economic Development Task Force.

The Town Council will meet for a public hearing next Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Mary Ingram Council Chambers.