Engineers recommend modest water increases, larger sewer hikes to restore reserves; board asks for build-out and I&I analysis

Underwood Engineers presented the town’s annual water-and-sewer rate review at the Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen meeting Feb. 5 and recommended modest, phased increases for water but larger, catch‑up increases for sewer to restore fund health and meet capital needs.

Keith Pratt, president of Underwood Engineers, and Steve Randall, the town’s director of public works, reviewed the utility models, historical rates and projected capital outlays through 2027. Pratt said the firm used the 2025 budgets as a baseline, applied conservative operating-cost growth assumptions (5% in 2026 and 2027 for modeling purposes), and included planned capital items such as Crescent Lake water-main work and several sewer pump‑station and South Main sewer projects.

Pratt reported that unaccounted-for (non‑revenue) water is…