Hopewell approves sewer rate increase

HOPEWELL -- The Hopewell City Council tonight voted 6-1 to approve a rate increase in the sewer service provided by the Hopewell Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility.

An average customer who uses 5,000 gallons of water per month will see a bill increase of nearly 70 percent starting July 1. That bill would go up by $7.52 per month, from a monthly bill of $10.88 to $18.40.

The water-treatment plant in Hopewell serves 8,100 residential and 240 commercial customers in Hopewell, Fort Lee and portions of Prince George County. The plant also serves federal corrections facilities and five major industries in Hopewell. All customers will be affected by the increase.

The increase will help pay for construction of a $29 million wastewater-treatment plant that the city intends to build to keep up with expected growth in the region, said Mark Haley, director of the Hopewell Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The city has maintained some of the lowest sewer rates in the region. Even with an increase, customers will pay less than residents in neighboring localities. In Chesterfield County, for example, an average user pays $22.27 per month.

Councilman Wayne Walton suggested putting the rate increase on hold until January but did not receive support. Walton's was the lone vote against the increase.

Contact Luz Lazo at (804) 649-6058 or .