Editorial – Increased rates are helping fix neglected sewer system

Published: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 7:28 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 7:28 p.m.

When New Hanover County residents see their water and sewer bills climbing, they naturally wonder where all that money is going. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority operates a system that most people think little about except when its not working and then it is a big deal.

The utility has an obligation to let people know where their hard-earned money is going. In just five years, rates have increased by an average of 55 percent. Although there have been complaints about pay and bonuses for CFPUA employees, the rate increases are paying for badly needed system improvements and maintenance.

CFPUA was formed in part to take the heat off elected city and county officials for the state of a water and sewer system that had largely been neglected once the pipes were installed. Throughout the negotiations, it was understood that water and sewer rates were inadequate to pay for the needed work and ongoing maintenance. Rate increases approved are not far out of line with initial estimates when the utility was formed.

No one likes higher rates. But no one wants raw sewage flowing through the backyard, either, and they expect their water to be available and clean when they turn on the faucet. Poor maintenance leads to accidents and that is what happened here.

By the summers of 2005 and 2006, the public had had enough. Several major sewage spills poured more than 10.7 million gallons into yards, streets and streams. In striving to keep rates low, elected officials had skimped on maintenance budgets.

CFPUA has replaced problem lines and upgraded warning systems that alert the utility if a sewage pump station has failed, making it more likely that workers can respond quickly. Officials attribute that work to a reduction in large spills, but vigilance is needed. In 2012, a sewer line with a slow leak went six months undetected, and several leaks were due to grease or debris, reminders that not all deficiencies can be attributed to the condition of the lines.

CFPUA also is replacing aging, leaking septic tanks in two neighborhoods with sewer lines. The county is paying part of the cost, but residents in those neighborhoods recently found out how much their tap-on fees will be, and many are not happy. Failing septic tanks are a health hazard, and in some areas water supply was also an issue. Something had to be done.

The duty of the CFPUA board is to maintain and replace lines, but it also must keep rates reasonable. According to a study by the UNC School of Government, the utilitys rates are in line with or cheaper than other systems. The definition of a good value likely depends on ones perspective, however.

While the CFPUA is much more diligent than its predecessors at fixing whats broken and keeping the system working properly, the board also needs to work to keep rates reasonable. Residents paychecks dont automatically grow when water and sewer rates rise.

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Editorial - Increased rates are helping fix neglected sewer system