Borough residents may no longer be charged twice for wasted water.
By: Scott Morgan
HIGHTSTOWN The Borough Council on Monday introduced a plan to eliminate sewer charges for those whose pipes have sprung a leak.
Historically, borough residents and business owners have had to face paying high sewer charges in addition to their water bills when their pipes leak. According to Councilman Eugene Sarafin, citizens were charged not only for using the amount of water leaked but also for sewer usage, whether it re-entered the sewer system or not.
For example, if a house leaked 100 cubic feet of water, the owner would be charged for using 100 cubic feet of water and for using 100 cubic feet of sewerage even if the leaked water never entered the sewer.
But a new ordinance, spawned by the Water & Sewer Commission, wants to curb such overcharging. Mr. Sarafin said the proposed ordinance, which is slated for council vote on Feb. 3, is designed to charge citizens only for the cost of the water involved in a leak. The only times sewer charges would be incurred, Mr. Sarafin said, will be when leaked water re-enters the sewers.
The savings would be significant for anyone with pipes outside a house that leak into the ground.
Comparing the costs of sewer and water services suggests this ordinance may offset a substantial cost. The borough charges a base rate of $19 per quarter for water service and $34 per quarter for sewer service. These water and sewer costs are flat connection rates, meaning residents are charged these rates whether they use either service, said Rich Lewis, the borough’s senior clerk for finance. These rates would not change.
But in addition, Mr. Lewis said, the borough charges $1.85 per 100 cubic feet of water used and $3.85 per 100 cubic feet of sewer used. This would remain the same as well.
The ordinance, Mr. Sarafin said, is "a nice way to take the public off the bill."

