LAWRENCE: Sewer fee increase planned

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   Sewer fees are expected to increase by 9 cents, or 2.3 percent, under the terms of an ordinance introduced by Township Council at its March 15 meeting.
   A public hearing on the ordinance is slated for the council’s April 5 meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. It will be held in the Township Council chambers at the Municipal Building.
   The proposed ordinance raises the sewer fee to $3.94 per cubic foot of water for residential and commercial properties from $3.85. This is the first sewer fee rate increase since 2009, Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun told Township Council.
   The sewer fee increase is necessary because Lawrence Township’s apportionment of the annual sewer charge from the Ewing Lawrence Sewerage Authority has increased from $4.4 million to $4.5 million, Mr. Krawczun said. ELSA provides sewer service and bills Ewing and Lawrence townships, based on their usage.
   For a home that has water and sewer meters, the average residential sewer fee would increase by $12.78 per year, Mr. Krawczun said. Residential properties that do not have water or sewer meters — such as those that rely on wells — would pay $559.48 annually, based on estimated annual water consumption of 14,200 cubic feet. This is a $7.14 increase over the present fee of $552.34.
   The annual sewer fee for hotels and motels that do not have metered water or sewer connections will increase by $5.21, under the proposed ordinance. This is based on annual water consumption of 6,450 cubic feet.
   The ordinance increases the charge for sewer service for all other uses that do not have metered water or sewer connections to $559.98 for the first 10 fixtures, and $55.95 for each additional fixture. This is an increase of $7.64 and 75 cents, respectively.