The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority is increasing rates for customers by 20 percent this year.
The rate increase for customers in Newtown Borough and Newtown Township has two causes – the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority is hiking wholesale customer rates by 16.6 percent and overall rising operating costs.
Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority Executive Director Warren Gormley recently explained at a public meeting that the 16.6 percent increase by the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority, of which the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority is a wholesale customer, is the largest reason behind the hike. The remaining percentage of the 20 percent rate increase is due to rising operation costs amid inflation.
The executive director explained that the average Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority customer will go from paying $68 per quarter to $82 per quarter. He noted customers on the Aqua America-owned system in Lower Makefield Township pay $204 per quarter and Northampton Township’s authority charges customers $135.45 per quarter.
Gormley said the authority’s last increase was in 2020 and was only passing along a Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority wholesale price increase. There wasn’t a local rate increase to cover the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority’s other costs in recent years.
The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority plans more wholesale increases to help pay for system upgrades, including a major overhaul of the Neshaminy Interceptor that transports wastewater from Lower Bucks County to Philadelphia for treatment. The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority uses the interceptor.
The Neshaminy Interceptor serves customers in Bensalem Township, Falls Township, Bristol Township, Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, Northampton Township, Middletown Township, Hulmeville Borough Langhorne Borough, and Langhorne Manor Borough.
Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority retail customers will see 10 percent rate increases over the next three years. The wholesale customers will also see price hikes.
Aqua America attempted to purchase the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority for more than $1 billion last year, but the sale attempt fell apart after public outcry over a for-profit company taking over a local authority.
Gormley said the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority increases are less than would have happened under Aqua America ownership.
