County rates increase for water, sewer and refuse starting today

WAILUKU - Beginning today, rates will go up for water, sewer and refuse collection in Maui County.

The new rates reflect the county's new fiscal year and the budget ordinances adopted earlier this year by the Maui County Council.

The monthly service charge for a water meter will increase. For example, many residential households draw water from a 5/8ths-inch meter, which now has a service charge of $8 per month. That will rise to $8.50.

The bimonthly residential water usage charge also will rise. For zero to 10,000 gallons of water used, the charge will be $1.65 per thousand gallons, up 5 cents from the old rate. For 10,001 to 30,000 gallons, consumers will be charged $2.90 per thousand gallons, a 10-cent increase from the old rate; and for more than 30,000 gallons, the rate will be $4.10, or 20 cents more.

The increase in water rates will generate approximately $3.9 million in additional revenue for the department, which will be used to offset increases in electrical expenses, debt service, and operations and maintenance expenditures.

What remains of the additional revenues will fund capital replacement projects.

The water and sewer increases are intended to keep both utilities financially self-supporting without any subsidy by the county's general fund.

Water rates have gone up an average of 8.5 percent.

Sewer rates charged by the county Department of Environmental Management will increase by an average of 10 percent.

The monthly base charge for sewer service for a single family will be $25.50, up from $23. There also are higher fees for gallons of wastewater used.

For curbside trash collection, rates for Maui and Molokai residents will increase from $14 to $18 per month. Residents on Lanai will now pay $9, which is up from $7.

A new refuse billing system is being implemented, and bills for the upcoming six-month billing period are expected to be mailed in the next two weeks. Customers will have one month from the billing date to pay.

For information on solid waste services, see: www.mauicounty.gov/solidwaste or call 270-1731. For information on water rates, call 270-7730. For sewer rates, call 270-7420.