By John Pacenti
Consultants told town commissioners that Manalapan water and sewer rates haven’t gone up in 11 years. Elected leaders rectified that quickly at their May 20 meeting with a significant increase.
While increases will vary among homes and businesses, rates will rise 80% on average, a consultant told the commission.
Town Manager Eric Marmer, hired last year, said that bringing water rates up to speed is necessary. “When I got here, you know, my whole thing was to right the ship and put things on the right path,” he said.
Marmer said a tiered rate system that increases over time is now required as part of the permitting process to encourage conservation.
Commissioner David Knobel asked that residents receive some information on how to curb their water usage before the rate hike goes into effect on Aug. 1.
“I would just like a communication going out to the residents, explaining to them the different methods and ways that they could reduce water, including a meter change, including sprinkler head changes and sprinkler head control systems,” he said.
In 2020, the town lost water rate revenue when the town of Hypoluxo switched its water provider from Manalapan to Boynton Beach. The Hypoluxo service account, in place for 60 years, had made up 57% of the town’s water service revenue at the time, Marmer said.
Meanwhile, the rate of inflation and construction and chemical costs have risen.
Water rates for the town are based on pipe size for a property. The larger the pipe size, the greater demand on the system. Nearly all Manalapan residences are served by either a one-inch or two-inch pipe.
New rates, included in the May 20 agenda packet, would increase for homes with a one-inch pipe, on a per meter basis, from $107 to $172 on Aug. 1. That figure would go up to $204 by October 2028 — nearly twice the current rate.
Homes with a two-inch pipe would see an increase, per meter, from $278 to $532 on Aug. 1. By October 2028, the price would increase to $634.
Most homes are on septic systems in Manalapan, but 13 wastewater accounts are primarily commercial and would see a 40% increase in their rates come August for a one-inch pipe.
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