Water Rate Public Comments
Dear Village Residents,
The Village is committed to providing safe, reliable water service and effective wastewater treatment for the community. This letter is intended to share information about an upcoming review of water and sewer rates that Village Council will be considering in the coming weeks.
The Village has not adjusted water or sewer rates since 2021. Over this period, the cost of materials, equipment, energy, and contracted services required to operate and maintain both utilities has increased significantly. Despite these rising costs, the Village has worked diligently to prioritize essential repairs, preventative maintenance, and strategic replacement of aging infrastructure to extend the useful life of existing equipment and facilities.
To continue providing reliable service and to address growing operational and capital needs, an adjustment to water and sewer rates is being proposed. For a typical household using approximately 4,000 gallons per month, the change would result in an increase of approximately $1.25 per thousand gallons for water service and approximately $2.50 per thousand gallons for sewer service.
The updated rates being considered are shown in the table below for 4000-gallon usage:
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 31.30 | 36.00 | 41.40 | 45.54 | 50.09 | 55.09 | 60.60 |
| Sewer | 50.30 | 57.85 | 66.54 | 73.18 | 80.50 | 88.55 | 97.41 |
| Total | 81.60 | 93.85 | 107.94 | 118.72 | 130.59 | 143.64 | 158.01 |
These updated rates will allow the Village to increase routine and preventative maintenance at both the water and wastewater treatment plants, address critical capital improvement needs at the sewer plant, and continue prioritizing repair and replacement activities that help avoid emergency failures and extend equipment life.
The Village understands that any change to utility rates is important to residents, and careful consideration is being given before any decision is made. Village Council will be discussing and voting on the proposed rate adjustments at upcoming public meetings. Residents are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and share input during this process. Public comments are being accepted online by visiting: www.BarnesvilleOhio.com/WaterRate.
Thank you for your continued support and for helping the Village maintain safe and reliable water and sewer services for the entire community.