Sharon Water Committee Recommends Lower Rates for Heavy Water Users
The following letter was submitted to Sharon Patch by resident Paul Lauenstein.
The Sharon Water Management Advisory Committee voted on Feb. 28 to recommend leveling Sharon’s conservation-oriented, ascending-block water rates.
If adopted by the Sharon Board of Selectmen, the new rate structure would reduce the rate paid by the town’s heaviest users, such as those with expansive lawn irrigation systems, while increasing rates for households that use less water.
Water committee members cited a need to be fair to large families, pointing out that the current rate structure tends to hit them harder than households with fewer occupants. However, the leveled rate structure they recommended would increase water bills for conserving households of all sizes, including a majority of large households that use water efficiently. Overall, the change would shift the financial burden of providing the community with water away from heavy users onto those who conserve.
Household water use efficiency varies widely in Sharon, from less than 25 gallons per person per day to well over 100 gallons per person per day.
High demand for water in summer can compromise drinking water quality and fire safety, and degrade the environment. Improving water use efficiency has accommodated Sharon’s rising population since the 1990s.
However, future development such as the Sharon Commons mall and new housing will require further improvement in the town’s water use efficiency. Otherwise, the capacity of local wells to provide high-quality drinking water will have to be increased, or water from an outside source such as Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) will have to be piped in, either of which would cost millions and increase water bills for everyone.
Paul Lauenstein,
Gavins Pond Road
Rebecca Friedman
11:15 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
The water rates controversy began over the issue of fairness.
How is it fair that a few water wasters force the Water Department to pump Well #6, causing the water to turn brown?
How is it fair that a few water wasters force the Water Department to pump the wells so hard that streams dry up?
How is it fair that a few water wasters increase carbon emissions that threaten future generations?
It is entirely fair and appropriate that people who use a lot of water should pay a much higher rate for the water they use.
Water is a limited resource. Paying more for water will help us stay conscious about what we use. It seems it would be a step in the wrong direction to change the water rate structure.
Debby Stringham
1:19 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Being unfair to the majority of responsible users so that you can be fair to a minority of users, many of whom are not taking responsibility to conserve, is outrageous. This will also be unfair to our seniors, as they are generally using less water than larger families. If the goal truly is to be fair, the rate structure should stay as it is.
Debby Stringham
Kurt Buermann
4:07 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Many Sharonites without children in the schools contribute a lot of tax money to the schools --and largely willingly, as they see the value of education in general. It is an insult to them that the Water Committee offers an extra couple of bucks to the big school-using families and wealthy water wasters via the proposed rate change.
With the exception of a minority of members, the Water Management Committee seems to pay little heed to the needs and concerns of the less fortunate and /or environmentally responisble citizens.
Elizabeth
9:22 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
I agree...
"Water is a limited resource. Paying more for water will help us stay conscious about what we use. It seems it would be a step in the wrong direction to change the water rate structure."