New Kensington authorities raise water, sewer rates

Water and sewer bills are going up this year for people who live in Arnold, Lower Burrell, New Kensington and portions of Plum.

The 15,000 water customers of the Municipal Authority of New Kensington, which also serves Upper Burrell and parts of Allegheny and Washington townships, will see a 12 percent hike in their water rates, authority Manager James Matta said.

“With rising operations and maintenance costs, we found it necessary to raise our rates,” Matta said.

This is the second consecutive year water rates have increased after remaining flat for 13 years, Matta said.

Last year, the authority restructured its rate schedule and increased rates by 12 percent.

The new rates went into effect Jan. 1 and will be reflected in the May billing cycle.

A typical residential customer who uses 15,000 gallons of water per quarter will see an increase of $6 per month, according to a letter the authority mailed to its 15,000 customers and posted on its website.

System improvements such as line replacement, upgrades to the water treatment plant and complying with state regulations are driving the need for the rate hike, Matta said.

The Municipal Sanitary Authority of New Kensington is also increasing its rates this year, according to authority solicitor Larry Loperfito.

The 3.6 percent increase in the sewer rates, which are based on water usage, will go toward funding the debt service on mandated improvement projects that are part of the authority’s long-term plans, Loperfito said.

The rates also increased last year, but Loperfito didn’t remember how much they were raised then.

The authority serves customers in Arnold, Lower Burrell, New Kensington and part of Plum.

Tom Davidson is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tom at 724-487-7208, tdavidson@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TribDavidson.