WILDWOOD — City Commissioners gave final approval to an ordinance that will allow a 6.4-percent rate increase for users and bulk purchasers of the city’s water utility.
According to a statement by the utility, the rate increase is the first in three years. “This increase raises water rates from $282.12 per year to $300.20 per year for a customer who uses 20,000 gallons per quarter, or 660 gallons per month,” said the statement. “This is an increase of $18.08 per year, $1.50 a month, or five cents per day.”
During February’s initial introduction of the ordinance, Gary Ziegler, head of Wildwood Water Utility told commissioners he was in Wawa and “they have increased their bottle of water from 99 cents to $1.09. Wawa’s water costs $4.12 per gallon, versus the Wildwood Water Utility’s $2.51 per 1,000 gallon or .251 cents per gallon.”
According to Ernesto Salvatico, the city’s water may be the answer to its financial woes.
Salvatico told commissioners that in Europe, a one-liter bottle of artesian water, marketed as Virgin Water, would sell for between $8 and $15 a bottle in the U.S.
Salvatico presented commissioners with a computer printout expounding the virtues of Virgin water.
According to the mayor the city had previously looked into bottling its water. “We actually did a whole study on bottling Wildwood water,” said Mayor Ernie Troiano.
“This is mineral water,” said Troiano, referring to the European artisan water. “This is natural.”
“We got the potential,” said Salvatico. He asked the city to test the water to see if there are minerals in it.
Salvatico said the Virgin Water wells go 150-feet deep.
“Our wells are 150-feet deep to 650-feet deep,” said Ziegler.
“It’s a solution,” said Salvatico. “We wouldn’t have to pay taxes.”
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