The flat rate for sewer users in Wilton will increase $20 a quarter to $140, starting Jan. 1, after the Sewer Commission confirmed new rates on Thursday.
Following a public hearing, the board voted unanimously to institute a new flat rate, which adds up to a yearly charge of $560 compared to last year’s $480. Industrial users are also charged a metered rate of 0.0035 cents per gallon, or $3.50 for every 1,000 gallons used.
The new rates are effective for the first quarter of the 2022 year, starting Jan. 1.
The town has participated in an agreement with Milford to process their wastewater since 1981, and is a co-permittee of the Milford Wastewater Treatment Facility. As part of that agreement, the town pays just under 15 percent of the operating fees to keep the facility running.
For 2022, the Sewer Commission was facing multiple required infrastructure projects at the facility, while also planning on improvements to Wilton’s sewer system infrastructure and maintaining an emergency reserve.
Together, those concerns resulted in a need to raise the rates this year, according to commissioners Chris Carter, Kermit Williams and Joanna Eckstrom, who released a joint statement saying the increase “will allow the department to operate its budget for 2022.”
“The new rate continues to be less than others in the area,” they wrote.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.