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Water fees going up in Oldsmar

The mayor said he expects the rates to go up every year until the city builds its own water treatment plant.

By TAMARA EL-KHOURY
Published August 6, 2005

OLDSMAR - To keep up with rising water costs, the City Council approved a 6 percent water rate increase this week.

The increase will take effect Oct. 1. Reclaimed water and wastewater fees will remain the same.

"We don't like doing this, but it's a must," said Mayor Jerry Beverland.

The city buys 70 percent of its water from St. Petersburg and 30 percent from the county. The city budgeted $1.5-million to buy water this year.

Both St. Petersburg and county rates are rising. Oldsmar officials are arranging for the city to buy 100 percent of its water from the county by next year. The county's rate for next year is cheaper than St. Petersburg's by 95 cents per 1,000 gallons, City Manager Bruce Haddock said.

For Oldsmar residents, the increase will mean an additional $1.37 for a household that uses 4,000 gallons a month and a $2.93 monthly increase in the water bill for a household that uses 10,000 gallons a month.

"All we're doing is passing on the cost to us from St. Petersburg and the county," Beverland said.

Oldsmar uses an average of 1.4-million to 1.5-million gallons of water a day, said John Mulvihill, director of public works.

Rising water costs prompted the city to pursue its own water source. Beverland said he expects water rates to go up every year until the city builds its proposed $15-million drinking water treatment plant planned for 2009.

The city is applying for permits to withdraw from the ground and treat an average of 2-million gallons of water a day, Mulvihill said.

"We'd be able to control the cost to give our residents better services and maintain their rates and not be at the mercy of others," said vice mayor Jim Ronecker.

[Last modified August 6, 2005, 01:36:22]