Rate Increase Notice

WATER RATES INCREASE NOTICE
EFFECTIVE DATE JANUARY 1, 2023

Effective as of January 1, 2023 the water rates for the West Vernon Parish Waterworks District will be increasing.  This letter serves as notice for the rate increase that will go into effect with your January 2023 bill due.  After carefully analyzing the budget, it has become necessary to adjust the water rates accordingly in order to maintain the budget requirements associated with operating a growing water system and funding the improvements necessary to continue to operate in an efficient manner.  Operational costs have increased for chemicals, supplies, services, energy, contract labor and insurance, to obtain the resources required to operate and to process and chemically treat the water to produce clean drinking water that meets the current water quality standards in order to deliver millions of gallons of water to your homes. 

PLEASE NOTE***Water rates will be increased annually at the rate of 1 ½%.  The board will re-evaluate the need for the increase according to the budget revisions for the current year.   

The following fees have been adopted/revised:

Re-read Meter Request Fee:  $40.00   (if the meter was misread by a staff member, all necessary adjustments will be made accordingly) The staff will be happy to help explain how to read your meter to avoid any additional fees for any concerns regarding your meter reading.

Service Fees:  any work done caused by customer’s side of meter, including but not limited to turning the meter valve off due to a leak on the customer’s side or any other actions not due to the fault of the water district = $25.00 during business hours

After Hours Service Fees:  $35.00 (does NOT INCLUDE the re-connection of a locked out delinquent account which WILL NOT BE DONE AFTER HOURS, no exceptions)

Account Deposits:  Homeowner = $75.00                Renter = $100.00

Fire Hydrant Meter Deposit = $100.00                   Fire Hydrant Bulk Rate Usage = $10 per 1,000 gallons 

We recognize that this increase will affect our customers and would like you to be aware that the board of directors did not take this decision lightly.  The West Vernon Parish Water District is committed to providing quality drinking water at the most affordable rates possible.  We have made every effort to minimize the price increase to continue to keep sourcing the best possible materials at competitive prices.  

The West Vernon Parish Water District began providing service to our customers in the year 2002 and since then there has only been two (2) rate increases within a twenty (20) year timespan with both increases being necessary due to inflation.  The board of directors has ensured that your dollars are being reinvested in the water district for upgrades, repairs and addressing the replacement of aging infrastructure.  The water district is seeing the breakdown of the critical components needed to deliver water due to the system’s age.  The water meters will need to be replaced in the very near future due to the age, wear and tear of the meters creating a huge expense to the district for the necessary replacement of an estimated 1,420 active customers’ meters.    

Water systems run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to deliver water in a manner that values the community, environment and economic interests, while we sustaining the resources entrusted to our care.  We thank you for your patience, understanding and support as we move forward to undergo the rate increase.

Sincerely,

West Vernon Parish Water District Board of Directors