Water and Wastewater Rates to Increase Jan. 1
For the second time in a year, Austell residents will be charged an increased rate for water consumption and wastewater treatment.
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Beginning in January and continuing each year, Austell residents will see an increase in their water and wastewater bills. On Jan. 1, Austell residents will see the second water and wastewater rate increases in a year.
The Austell City Council approved an 8 percent water rate increase and a 4 percent wastewater rate increase in January, and another 8 percent water rate increase and 2 percent wastewater increase in November. This brings the current cost of water for the first 2,000 gallons from $6.84 to $7.18. The latest rate increase will take effect on Jan. 1
According to Keck and Wood, a municipal planning firm representing the City of Austell, Austell residents use an average of 5,000 gallons of water each month, which means they will be charged approximately 85 cents more on their monthly water bills.
In 2010, the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority amended its wholesale rate program to include annual rate increases of 8 percent or about 17 cents per 1,000 gallons of water consumed.
In order to account for the annual increases from CCMWA, the rate increases are passed along to consumers.
Additionally, to reflect the latest changes to Cobb County Water System’s waste water rates, Austell residents will pay approximately 8 cents more per 1,000 gallons treated.
Rates for residents outside the city and for commercial consumers will also increase.
Commercial customers make up approximately 71 percent of system revenues, while residential customers generate the remaining 29 percent. Industrial customers represent less than 1 percent of the revenue.
2012 Water Rate Increase
| Inside City | Current | Proposed |
| First 2,000 gallons (minimum bill) | $6.84 | $7.18 |
| 2,001 gallons to 7,000 gallons | $3.49 | $3.66 |
| 7,001 gallons to 15,000 gallons | $4.12 | $4.29 |
| 15,001 gallons and above | $6.02 | $6.19 |
| Outside City | Current | Proposed |
| First 2,000 gallons (minimum bill) | $7.34 | $7.68 |
| 2,001 gallons to 7,000 gallons | $3.74 | $3.91 |
| 7,001 gallons to 15,000 gallons | $4.43 | $4.60 |
| 15,001 gallons and above | $6.52 | $6.69 |
| Austell Box Board Corporation | Current | Proposed |
| First 2,000 gallons (minimum bill) | $6.84 | $7.18 |
| 2,001 gallons to 7,000 gallons | $3.49 | $3.66 |
| 7,001 gallons to 15,000 gallons | $4.12 | $6.19 |
Correction: Keck and Wood represent Austell, not the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority as the article originally stated.
Duane R. Demeritt, CFM
7:04 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Just for clarification to the readers - this is technically not the "second" time in a year for these increases. Any long time resident or business will know that new rates for both water and wastewater become effective January 1 of each year. We were late in getting the water and wastewater rates on the December 2010 City Council agenda; therefore, we had to wait until January 2011. Those rates that were adopted became effective and retroactive back to January 1, 2011, and apply only to year 2011. The rates that were adopted by the City Council on November 3, 2011 will become effective January 1, 2012. THE CURRENT RATES ADOPTED JANUARY 1, 2011 WILL STAY IN EFFECT UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR.
Regarding Keck and Wood, Inc. representing Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, this is incorrect. The firm represents, and is contracted by, the City of Austell and calculates our annual water and wastewater rate increases.
Duane R. Demeritt, Operations Manager
Austell Public Works
Kiri Walton
8:02 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Hello Duane,
Thanks for the comment. Because there was a rate increase effective Jan. 1, 2011 and there is another effective Jan. 1, 2012, there will have been two rate increases in one year. The article mentions three times that the second rate increase will not take effect until Jan. 1, but I understand that some people may skim it. Also, I have corrected the article to reflect that Keck & Wood represents Austell and not the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority.