WILDWOOD — Wildwood Commissioners gave an initial okay during their Feb. 22 meeting to an ordinance that will bring the first rate increase since 2009 to customers of Wildwood Water Utility.
“The water utility last had a rate increase in 2009,” said Water Utility Director Gary Ziegler. “We are requesting a 6.4 percent increase, which will take the average water bill in the City of Wildwood for a person who uses 20,000 gallons per quarter, it will take the bill from $282.12 to $300.30, which is $18.08 per quarter, which is less than five cents per day.”
Using a bottle of water purchased at a local convenience store as an example, Ziegler noted that if a bottle of water costs $1 for 16.9 fluid ounces, which would equate to $4.12 per gallon. The water utility charges 22.5 cents per gallon.
City Solicitor Marcus Karavan asked Ziegler about comparable water company costs. Ziegler responded that New Jersey American water had a 15 percent increase in 2009, a 7.5 percent increase in 2010 and “they are requesting a 15 percent increase in 2012.”
“Middlesex Water, another large water utility in the state, got a 12.5 percent increase in 2009, and they’re in for a 17.4 percent increase in 2012,” added Ziegler.
With a long list of water utility companies’ costs in hand, Ziegler told the Commissioners, “The point being the City of Wildwood is always on the bottom of the list with the least expensive water.”
The rate increase was brought about by the utility having, over the last three years, doing $6 million in capital projects.
Ziegler told the Commissioners the utility only does water main replacement when one of the other communities is tearing up its roads.
“Even doing that,” said Ziegler, “We spent $6 million. We are replacing basically 100-year-old water mains,” he said, “Which have outlasted their usefulness.”
According to Ziegler, a current project, the replacement of the well at Myrtle Avenue, costs $1.2 million. “That well was drilled in 1967. Not many things that you have and use every day have lasted that kind of time.”
“No one likes to see an increase,” said Ziegler. “But with the amount of capital work that we’re doing, there’s no other choice.”
