Water rate hike coming

Those affected would include residents of the Brandon Farms, Hopewell Grant and Wellington Manor developments.

By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
   Hopewell Township residents who use Trenton public water can expect a rate hike before long, according to Hopewell Township Administrator/Engineer Paul Pogorzelski.
   In Hopewell Township, those users include residents of the Brandon Farms, Hopewell Grant and Wellington Manor developments, which account for about one-fourth of the township’s population and are all located in the southeastern section of the township, between I-95 and Route 546.
   Mr. Pogorzelski said it is too soon to tell what the rate increase will be or when it will go into effect.
   The water rate is expected to go up because of the impending sale, by the Trenton Water Works, of its water distribution system in Hopewell, Lawrence, Ewing and Hamilton townships. The sale would be to the private water distribution firm of New Jersey American. Mr. Pogorzelski said the sale price is $100 million.
   The sale must be approved by the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) before it can go through.
   Mr. Pogorzelski said the city wants to make the sale because it needs the money to pay off debt as soon as possible. He also said that, according to information he has been able to obtain thus far, the water rate increase for the suburban towns would be higher if Trenton held onto the distribution network now slated for sale to New Jersey American.
   Mr. Pogorzelski said he will be contacting the homeowners associations of Brandon Farms, Hopewell Grant and Wellington Manor about the impending rate increase.
   Except for it southeastern tip, most of Hopewell Township is served by private wells.