By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD – Local water and sewer rates are going up in Fiscal Year 2026, although the rate of increase is much higher (9 percent) on the water side than on the sewer side (1 percent).
The Town Council approved the new rates at its meeting last night. Public Works Director Joseph Conway and DPW Business Manager Ann Waitt appeared before the Town Council to review the new rates, which were recommended by the Advisory Board of Public Works.
The bottom line for the average residential user (defined as using about 2,000 cubic feet of water per quarter) is that the average pre-discount water bill will rise from this year’s $195.88 per quarterly bill to 213.72. The average pre-discount quarterly sewer bill will go up from this year’s $268.54 to $273.34 in FY2026.
That results, for FY2026, in a combined average quarterly water/sewer bill of $487.06 ($438.36 with the 10 percent discount for prompt payment).
Conway noted that the Advisory Board of Public Works had also recommended a 10 percent increase in the quarterly “service charge” for each quarterly bill. On the water side the service charge will increase to $23.19 per quarterly bill for the average user. The new sewer service charge will be 25.89 per quarterly bill for the average user.
Conway explained that the service charges were instituted several years ago to cover “fixed administrative costs” that the Water/Sewer Department would incur regardless of the volume of water sold and consumed.
The Advisory Board of Public Works voted to continue using a tiered structure to set the per cubic foot rate (see accompanying chart).
The board issued a memorandum explaining how it arrived at the recommended water/sewer rates for FY2026. In determining the rates, the Advisory BPW took into consideration the following factors:
• Both water and sewer rates need be sufficient to fund the operating budget set at Town Meeting.
• Both the water and sewer reserves need to be sufficient to provide for consumption shortfalls, emergencies and future capital improvements.
• Continue the emphasis on sustainable, more predictable financial future for water and sewer.
• Maintaining the 10 percent prompt payment discount.
• Evaluating the previous year’s financial plan and upcoming capital needs to update accordingly.
• Identify changes in the financials for the Water and Sewer Enterprises, project future out years and, if feasible, adjust the rate plans accordingly.
• Analyze and review the per-bill impact that the combined rate action will trigger.
The Advisory BPW memo also noted that amounts assessed to the town by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority are among the biggest cost drivers for the water and sewer budgets. The MWRA sewer assessment represents 71 percent of the sewer budget. The MWRA water assessment represents 47 percent of the water budget.
The Advisory BPW also reviewed the Towns Sewer Flat rate for customers on well water who do not have a meter installed. This rate is Based on the American Water Works Association standard average which is 12,000 cubic feet per year or 3,000 cubic feet per quarter. The rate recommended sewer flat rate is $402.52 per bill (362.27 after discount).
The fee for a manual meter read remains at $50, the same as the past year.
The septic disposal rate also remains unchanged at $110.
The Town Council vote to accept the Advisory Board of Public Works water and sewer rate recommendations was unanimous.