To: Residents receiving Sewer Use bills

From: E. Arthur Enderle III, WPCF Superintendent

Subject: Sewer Use Fees & Yearly Update

Date: September 24, 2008

The Canton Water Pollution Control Authority adopted the revised Sewer Use fee effective June 30, 2008. There was no increase from last year. Basic sanitary sewage units will be charged $285.00 per annum per equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) of 255 gallons per day (gpd). This rate applies to most residential users.

Larger user will be charged $3.73 per 1,000 gallons of metered annual usage or $2.98 per each 100 cubic feet of metered annual usage (depending on type of meter used), subject to a minimum of $285.00.

Our goal is to continue to properly operate and maintain the facilities and infrastructure, while protecting our valuable natural resource, the Farmington River.

While we continue to see basic utility costs rise, we have several capital projects underway. These include the Dowd Avenue Sewer Replacement Project (which will be completed in the spring of 2009), the Sand Filter Project (which will begin in December of this year), and the commencement of the SCADA System project which will utilize personal computers and programmable logic controllers enabling the staff of the WPCF to continue to operate and maintain the facility with minimal staff.

A Clean Water Loan in the amount of $1.8 million was approved on June 19, 2007 to pay for this important infrastructure improvement (Dowd Avenue Sewer Replacement Project). This loan is a 2% low interest loan with a 20 year schedule. This is being repaid through the sewer use fees. This project was completed under budget and two months ahead of schedule. The Sand Filter Project and the SCADA System Upgrade Project are being paid out of the WPCA’s Sewer Reserve Fund. The Sand Filter will allow for the Canton WPCF to process an increased amount of wastewater while meeting and or exceeding permit requirements. The SCADA System Upgrade Project will automate, update and computerize the facility and allow for remote communication with the three offsite sewage pumping stations, while monitoring electrical power and usage allowing staff to operate the facility in the most efficient and cost effective manner

The Sewer User Charge system is a revenue generating system designed to recover the total cost of operating and maintaining the wastewater collection and treatment system. A properly operated and maintained wastewater treatment system benefits both the community and the environment. With consistent funding the planning and execution of proper operation and maintenance schedules prevent failure of critical wastewater treatment processes and prevent overflows of untreated sewage from the wastewater collection system.