A new way of charging county sewer customers that could result in higher bills has received the blessing of a Kaua’i County Council committee. The Public Works Committee on Wednesday approved Bill No. 1956, amending sections of the county code
A new way of charging county sewer customers that could result in higher bills
has received the blessing of a Kaua’i County Council committee.
The Public
Works Committee on Wednesday approved Bill No. 1956, amending sections of the
county code relating to sewers.
The measure now goes back to the full
council for a possible final approval.
According to Harry Funamura of the
county’s wastewater division, the new law, if passed, will go into effect soon
after Feb. 1, 2001. It would provide for a flat rate plus added fees based on
an individual sewer customer’s usage.
The current law charges the same rate
for a residence with five residents or a residence with one inhabitant.
It
is hoped that an amended ordinance will ensure more equitable rates, officials
said.
The existing flat rate for residential customers is $34.22 per month.
Beginning the middle of next year, the flat rate will be lowered to $25 and an
additional charge based on water consumption will be added. That fee will be
$1.72 per 1,000 gallons of water. No more than 9,000 gallons of water will be
billed. Depending on how much water is used, bills could eventually be higher
than they are now, said county spokeswoman Beth Tokioka.
For commercial
customers, new sewer rates will vary depending on the type of operation. For
instance, restaurants will be charged $5 per 1,000 gallons of water because
they are considered a bigger user of sewers than other businesses, such as golf
courses, Tokioka said.
Funamura said the county is preparing computer
systems to handle the new billing.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be
reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and[
HREF=”mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net”>dwilken@pulitzer.net]
