Greenville’s water and sewer rates will see a significant jump this year, after the Select Board – whose members double as the Water and Sewer Commission – set new rates during its meeting on Wednesday.

The rates, set after a short public hearing, included new rates for the Water And Sewer Department, as well as a separate sewer rate for Greenville Estates, which is set according to a formula by contract.

The water rate for the town in 2024 is set at $11.50 per 1,000 gallons, compared to the previous rate of $9 per 1,000 gallons. The minimum metered water charge also rose from $90 to $115, or a flat charge of $225 to $287.50.

The sewer rate for the majority of the town also saw a jump, from $23 per 1,000 gallons to $34 per 1,000 gallons, with the minimum metered charge rising from $230 to $340 and the flat charge increasing from $558.90 to $850.

The Greenville Estates sewer rate rose from $10.76 per 1,000 gallons to $13.74.

Greenville Town Administrator Tara Sousa said the budget for both departments have increased significantly over the past two years, after the town switched contractors when the previous contractor that operated the water and wastewater plant declined to renew in 2022. Sousa said the new contractor places more of the operations costs on the town, leading to increases in costs for chemicals, utilities and costs associated with the operations of the plant.

The Select Board also agreed to make the rates effective retroactively as of March 29, or the end of the previous billing cycle. The first billing at the new rate is expected to be received by customers in October of 2024.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.