Sharon Water Committee to Explore Switch to Single Block Water Rate System

Sharon's Water Management Advisory Committee will explore how switching to a single block water rate system and phasing it in will affect residents' bills.

Selectmen requested the data Tuesday night. The board next plans to attend the committee's Feb. 16 meeting.

Committee Chairman David Crosby said his group has proposed ending the current block rate structure and adopting a single block system.

The committee has reviewed water rates, as well as borrowing and other issues, toward determining funding for about $24 million in capital projects identified in Sharon's updated water master plan, he said.

Under the block rate system, larger households are "paying a disproportionately high amount for water compared to other households," while consuming less water per person, Crosby said.

"We concluded that the block rate structure doesn't encourage conservation, because the people that are in the higher blocks, there's nothing that they can do to get to the lower blocks. The amount of water that they would have to conserve would be impractical," he said.

However, committee member Paul Lauenstein said a single rate will discourage conservation, lower the bills of the highest users, "while raising the cost of
water for the majority of residents who use water efficiently, thus reducing the incentive to conserve."

"This would send the wrong message to a community that cannot meet demand for high-quality water in summer," Lauenstein said.

"Fairness to large families has been repeatedly cited as a reason for changing the water rate structure. With current rates, the cost of water for large families is already low: $1.56 per day for an average family of six, which is less than the cost of a 20-oz. bottle of Dasani. Ironically, the proposed rate structure would actually increase water bills for the majority of large families in Sharon."

Selectman William Heitin said infrastructure improvements have reduced Sharon's water waste.

Heitin said he'd like to see an analysis of water conservation efforts.

"I have not seen anything that tells me that putting in the ultra low-flow toilets in town or by people not watering their lawns has saved us a substantial amount of water," he said.

One water management advisory committee member said that "I think the board of selectmen is aware that Paul represents a minority of one on our committee."

Crosby said the committee also has considered suggesting implementing an irrigation meter system, with a separate rate.

"Some of the high use is based upon irrigation use," he said.

A one-time charge could fund the meters, he said.

"This is going to be a learning process for us, because when we go to a different rate structure like this, it's going to change people's water use habits," Crosby said.

"It may mean that when people start to see what it really costs them to irrigate their lawn that they do conserve. That's what we're hoping to do."

Public Works Superintendent Eric Hooper said Sharon already has some irrigation meters, mostly by Gavin's Pond, an area which has a sewer connection.