News Flash

TRUMBULL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY (WPCA)
AUGUST 1, 2011

Contemplated Changes to WPCA Billing Policies and Procedures

The WPCA is in the process of changing its long standing accounting procedures in two (2) ways: First, with respect to eliminating the “Averaging” method for billing of the sewer use fee and adopting an “Actual” method for billing for sewer use fee based upon actual consumption of water, and Second with respect to the water consumed for lawn irrigation systems.

A look at the history of the current policy is important. When the last 20-year contract with Bridgeport was negotiated, Trumbull’s User Fee went from a “flat rate” (equal for all households), to a user based fee. To determine the user based fee, Trumbull’s WPCA turned to the local water company and got them to report to the WPCA the amount of water consumed quarterly. When that first summer’s consumption made the few rate payers with irrigation systems have a very high bill, the WPCA decided to use the actual two “winter quarters”, and then used an average of those winter quarters for the two “summer” quarters. In this way, those gallons of extra consumption were spread over all rate payers. Eighteen years ago there were few irrigation systems, but now they are fairly ubiquitous.

In order to bring fairness back to the system, the WPCA is eliminating the averaging method. People will pay for their sewer use based on their consumption of water. This change will take effect during the winter quarters that are coming, and will continue thereafter.

Trumbull’s contract with Bridgeport is paid for based on the water “consumed” at each property. These volumes of water are reported to the WPCA from the water company’s water bills from the property. Included in this volume is the water that goes through the irrigation system (if the property has one). Therefore this volume of water is paid for as if treated by Bridgeport . . . which of course it is not so treated. The WPCA is proposing to give the option of the installation of a second water meter for all residences who have an irrigation system. Once installed, the water company will read both meters, and only report to the WPCA the water that doesn’t go into the irrigation system.

The WPCA is planning for a Public Informational Meeting on OCTOBER 13, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Frenchtown Elementary School, 30 Frenchtown Road, Trumbull to assess the residents’ opinions concerning these matters. The WPCA is looking for input so that the transition to actual consumption User Fees will go as smoothly as possible.

Please contact the Chairman of the Trumbull Water Pollution Control Authority, at the offices of the WPCA, 203-452-5048 for further information.