Worcester subcommittee approves DPW water, sewer rate increases to take effect July 1

The Worcester Public Works Subcommittee voted to recommend Department of Public Works (DPW) proposals to raise the city’s water and sewer rates, accepting a water rate of $3.85 per 100 cubic feet and a sewer rate of $9.49 per 100 cubic feet to take effect July 1, 2025.

The vote followed a roughly two-hour discussion at the subcommittee meeting on May 13, during which DPW staff and the city auditor outlined how much of the sewer increase stems from the Upper Blackstone Clean Water Abatement Facility assessment and how city reserves and recent spending affect rate-setting.

DPW Commissioner John Westerling told the subcommittee the recommended rates were presented in a May 13 memo to the city manager and explained the lifeline rate for eligible elderly homeowners will remain $170 per year and out-of-town water users would pay $4.12 per 100 cubic feet. “The impact of the proposed rate for the average single-family homeowner will be an increase of $20.21 per year, or $5.05 per quarter,” Westerling said, citing the department’s analysis. Assistant Commissioner Jared Connor and DPW staff provided line-item breakdowns showing the Upper Blackstone assessment and debt service as the largest drivers of the sewer increase.

Why it matters: the subcommittee’s recommendation goes to the full…