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Email Megan Email Shayla Browse & Buy: Announcements Apartments & Rentals Automotive Employment Farmer's Market Financial Legals Merchandise for Sale Real Estate for Sale Recreational Call A Pro Page 1 Call A Pro Page 2 MARKETPLACE Amador Ledger Dispatch SUBSCRIBER CENTER Contact the Ledger Dispatch Subscribe Today COMMUNITY LINKS California Highway Patrol Traffic Info Page City of Jackson Jackson Police Department City of Amador Amador County Chamber of Commerce Amador Superior Court City of Plymouth Amador County Caltrans Road Conditions HomeTown Radio City of Ione Amador County Sheriff City of Sutter Creek CLICK GALLERIES April Click Submissions Click - March 25, 2008 Click - March 18, 2008 Click - March 11, 2008 Click — February 19, 2008 Photos Courtesy of John Shepherd More Click Galleries E-mail this article to a friend | Printer friendly format Water, sewer rates don't rhyme among local cities Thursday, May 21, 2009 By Roger Phelps All Amadorians may be equal, but that truth hasn't produced any equality in water rates charged residents of the five local cities. Or in the sewer rates. Plymouth households pay far and away the highest basic water rate. They also pay the highest sewer rate -- by a hair. Plymouth households, on water meters, pay $3.43 per 100 cubic feet used, up from $2.42 previously for that amount. The 45-percent rate hike came last September. "Water comes to around $85 a month," said Dixon Flynn, city manager. The rate hike was driven by a $13 million pipeline project to serve Plymouth's need to end reliance on well water. A pipeline from Tanner Reservoir to Plymouth is expected to begin service no later than November. Plymouth had hoped for developer assistance in defraying both the pipeline cost and costs to upgrade wastewater treatment, but that's unlikely these days, Flynn said. "Plymouth is the 15th smallest city in California," city officials wrote recently to the local Regional Water Quality Control Board. "Nine of those smallest 15 lost population -- including Plymouth. These facts, along with current economic and housing market conditions, make any growth projections for the City of Plymouth problematic at best. Thus, counting on new development to help Plymouth pay for ... improvements is not practical in the short-term." Plymouth residents pay $61.27 a month for sewer service. The second-highest water rate in Amador County cities is paid by residents in towns served by Amador Water Agency -- Sutter Creek, Amador City and Ione. They pay $22.44 a month, plus $1.69 per water "unit," one of which equals 748 gallons. Sue Tearpak, agency customer-service supervisor, said a typical household in those cities - and in unincorporated areas the agency serves - uses 15 units a month, and so is billed $47.78 per month. Sutter Creek residents also pay the second-highest sewer rate - $60.27 per month, billed quarterly. That rate rose in January, from $50.05 per month. The hike came after Amador Water Agency adjusted its charges to reflect increased density of sewage from the developing Martell commercial area. AWA officials said density in sewage to be treated rose because of increased use of kitchen disposal units, as well. Jackson residents are the most fortunate city dwellers in both water rate and sewer rate. However, the bad news is that their comfort margins will shrink a bit come July. The Jackson basic water rate is $14.80 per month, soon to rise to $15.98. The sewer rate is $27.69 per month, which will go July 1 to $29.35. AWA charges Jackson a $19,746 monthly service fee plus a wholesale water-supply rate of $1.05 per 100 cubic feet, Tearpak said. Roger Phelps COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE No comments have been posted in the last 15 days! 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