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Preston officials explain $31 monthly sewer-rate increase as federally mandated plant upgrade proceeds
Summary
City leaders told residents at a council meeting that new Environmental Protection Agency limits on phosphorus require an upgraded wastewater treatment plant, funded largely by grants and long-term borrowing; council members apologized that some residents said they were unaware of the rate rise.
Preston city leaders addressed a $31-per-month wastewater rate increase during the council meeting, saying the hike stems from a federally required upgrade to meet new pollution limits and that the city has pursued grants and legal steps to limit the cost to ratepayers.
The matter matters because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a permit tightening phosphorus discharge limits, and the city must meet the new standard by Nov. 1, 2025, or face enforcement and fines. The council described a mix of grant awards and long-term borrowing that together fund the plant.
Mayor (unnamed) apologized to residents who said they were caught off guard. “I am going to express, embarrassment as well as offer, an apology in my behalf because I'm shocked that there's been members of our community that were totally unaware of this,” he said.…
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