Rates increasing for sewer service and other wastewater disposal in Pierce County
Pierce County residents will see a steady increase in utility bills over the next two years.
The approved 2020-2021 budget will raise monthly sewer rates, and the surface water rate structure was overhauled into a tier system, resulting in an increase for most residents.
Now 69 percent of Pierce County residents — those living in high-density areas or close to a river — will pay more for water treatment and stormwater drainage.
“When you look at a home and a farm, from a surface water perspective, they don’t behave the same way,” County Executive Bruce Dammeier told The News Tribune. “What we are trying to do is apply a more logical approach, what is the real impact your property will have on surface water.”
Sewer rates
The additional monthly funds will cover increased staffing and maintenance of the sewer system, Sewer division Manager Jane Vandenberg said.
There are 700 miles of pipeline in the county, Vandenberg said. The pipe system was constructed 50 years ago to hold about 5 million gallons a day and now holds up to 37.4 million gallons a day.
Waste from toilets, showers, washing machines and dishwashers travels through the system to a treatment facility to be cleaned before flowing into Puget Sound.
Most Pierce County family homes are charged $50.04 monthly, which will increase to $51.94 in 2020 and to $53.89 in 2021.
In Tehaleh, homes are charged more — $56.82 month — because water treatment is done at a smaller, newer treatment facility, the Vandenberg said.
“There’s a cost economy on scale. Because there are fewer homes up there, it’s a little bit higher,” Vandenberg said.
Tehaleh rates will jump to $58.98 monthly in 2020 and $61.19 in 2021.
The increased costs will cover relining and replacing pipes and maintaining the treatment centers, Vandenberg said. The budget also added three new positions to support expansion of the sewer system.
Storm and surface water
The Surface Water Department manages storm drainage and surface water runoff systems to prevent erosion of waterways, protect water quality and minimize property loss from water damage.
A Pierce County home will see a $7 increase in the stormwater service charge in 2020, and the new tiered rate structure will start in 2021.
The raised rates will add an estimated $1 million to cover the cost of three new positions, remove unauthorized homeless encampments along levies and increase funding for fish passage.
Pierce County has identified 163 stormwater and flooding projects. The six-year plan included in the budget would acquire land for three projects, design 20 and build eight projects for $281 million. Of that, $105 million will come from Pierce County residents. Grants hopefully will make up the difference, Capital Programs manager Harold Smelt said.
“Rely heavily on grants from external dollars, leverage that two, three times to build more projects,” Smelt said.
The county has taken on several projects on Clear Creek to minimize flooding, save young salmon and establish a floodplain for farmland. The project has been broken into five parts:
▪ Flood gate for $497,759
▪ Habitat restoration for $1,074,399
▪ Stabilizing a streambank for fish passage for $3,346,099
▪ Buying flood-prone homes for $57,169,762
▪ Acquiring a mobile home park for $2,178,040.
Dammeier said growing up and seeing the aluminum smelter dump slag into Puget Sound led to his decision to prioritize environmental mitigation. As the changing climate continues to affect the environment, he said he expects the county to pay more to mitigate. But, he sees the increased cost for Pierce County residents as part of being responsible stewards of the land.
“We have got a spectacular community, and we need to leave it better than we found it,” Dammeier told The News Tribune. “That’s what’s driving a lot of our efforts in the county.”
This story was originally published November 29, 2019 at 6:30 AM.
