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Resident raises concerns about notice of Elyria water, sewer and sanitation increases; officials cite EPA mandate and aging pipes
Summary
At the Jan. 6 Elyria council meeting, resident Nancy Arnold said many residents, particularly seniors, received little notice of increases to water, sewer and sanitation charges. City officials said the increases respond to a U.S. EPA mandate and aging infrastructure that is losing water.
Nancy Arnold of 451 Bayberry Drive told Elyria City Council on Jan. 6 that residents did not receive adequate notice of recent water, sewer and sanitation rate increases and said the city should do more to communicate changes to residents who lack internet access.
“I pay taxes, I vote for each and every one of you … we do not get any information,” Arnold said. She told council mailed notices, phone calls or a printed newsletter would better reach older residents who do not use social media.
City officials responded that the city posts meeting videos and information on its website and social media and that staff is planning a mailed newsletter in 2025 to broaden outreach. Council members and the mayor said the sewer and water increases were discussed at several meetings and are tied to compliance requirements under a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandate. Officials said engineers and outside consultants presented options and that some projected increases were reduced before council approved the rates.
Council members and staff noted aging infrastructure as part of the justification for upgrades. The council said engineers identified some water lines that are more than 100 years old and that system losses were estimated in the discussion at about 1,800,000 gallons of treated water per month. Officials said the city must fix the lines to avoid larger problems and cited lead‑pipe crises in other cities as reasons to act now.
Arnold also reported a summer incident in which a neighbor experienced a sewer backup into her home; council members said separating storm and sanitary flows and other system upgrades are intended to reduce that risk, though staff did not and could not guarantee relief for every individual case.
Council members offered a practical follow‑up: the utilities director will contact Arnold to review her bill and billing questions and to provide a phone or in‑person follow‑up. Council members also asked residents for ideas on how the city can improve outreach to people who do not use online channels.
Why it matters: water and sewer rate changes affect all ratepayers, and residents with limited internet access are at higher risk of missing notices posted online. City officials described the rate changes as necessary to comply with federal environmental requirements and to repair century‑old infrastructure.
What’s next: the utilities director will follow up with Nancy Arnold to review her bill. Council indicated staff will pursue broader outreach formats in 2025, including a mailed newsletter.
