Increases in water and sewer rates were recently approved by the City Council.

By The Times Staff

The Somerville City Council approved a 15 percent rate increase for water and sewer for FY 2027 during the June 11 meeting.

The increase in water and sewer volumetric usage charges is determined on actual consumption. The base charges are calculated by the meter size and will remain the same.

Expense projections are increasing for water and sewer field operations, and all the business is executed on a daily basis to keep the operation running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, explained Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management Richard Raiche.

The primary driver for rate increases is the capital investment plan and the debt service that results from it, he said in a presentation.

To address aging infrastructure and fulfill regulatory requirements, the city will be upgrading the sewer system, which is referred to as the combined sewer overflow (CSO) control plan.

The estimated cost is $1.29 billion and is shared with Cambridge and the MWRA to upgrade infrastructure and eliminate CSO discharges. This includes sewer separation, new storage tanks, and upgraded conveyance systems.

Sewer expenses over the next 10 years will increase as a result of the updates. Operating expenses will grow modestly at roughly 4 percent per year. The debt service will increase 14.4 percent per year, a 336 percent increase over the next decade. The MWRA assessment will increase 63 percent over the 10-year span, according to the city’s projections.

The average annual total water and wastewater bill, including base and volumetric charges for an average condo unit in FY 2027, will be $1,711. The average bill for a two-family home will be $3,692, according to the presentation data.

Following the presentation, City Councilor-at-Large Kristen Strezo said that rate increases are “a burden on our community” and expressed concerns for renters.

“This is a death by paper cuts blow to them and one more reason they can’t stay in the city,” said Strezo.

Both Strezo and City Councilor-at-Large Wilfred Mbah voted against the water and sewer rate increase.