Additional Fee Information

Several residents have questioned the additional $45 that has appeared on their quarterly water bills this year. Originally, the line item was titled "ALCOSAN Fee", but was recently changed to "Line Service Charge" to more accurately reflect the reason for the charge.

A little history: In 2014, ALCOSAN imposed a 17% rate hike, with 11% rate increases for 2015, 2016, AND 2017. The Borough did not sufficiently increase rates in 2014 and 2015 to cover these hikes.

Based on annual average consumption, Blawnox will pay ALCOSAN about $232,000 this year. However, the Borough's agreement with ALCOSAN states that Blawnox should also have a reserve fund of 120% of our annual average consumption; based on average consumption this fund would need to be nearly $280,000! While the Borough is not required to have this contingency reserve, it is best practice, and protects Blawnox in the event of an emergency.

For example, in 2015 a resident had a metered leak of over 1,000,000 gallons. Councilman Stoddard worked with ALCOSAN to forgive all but the customer's average usage because the water did not go into the sewer. This response averted a nearly $10,000 sewage bill that Blawnox would be responsible for if the customer did not pay. We have to pay if the customer cannot.

A committee devised the $45 flat fee to keep the increase level through at least 2017. Mr. Stoddard has stated that, "Our rate reflects where we need to be to pay ALCOSAN, to build and maintain a reserve that our agreement with ALCOSAN includes, to be able to complete work required by the consent order, to be prepared to build or repair our infrastructure, to pay engineering and legal costs and to pay our management and public works-associated costs".

If you have further questions, please contact the Borough Office at (412) 828-4141.