NEWater tells Ashwaubenon board costly interceptor work will push municipal wastewater fees higher

NEWater representatives told the Village Board on Oct. 28 that a wave of required sewer repairs and treatment‑plant work will push regional wastewater costs higher and asked municipal customers to prepare for rate increases.

"Total expenses are up about 10.2 percent," said Nathan Qualls of NEWater, adding that NewWater’s 2026 draft budget would use about $2 million in reserves to keep municipal user fees to roughly a 6.6% increase over 2025. Qualls said combined interceptor and plant capital needs — including two linked downtown projects he estimated at about $29 million — are the primary driver.

Why it matters: Ashwaubenon and 14 other municipalities pay NewWater for treatment and interceptor conveyance; treatment costs make up most of many local sanitary budgets. As NewWater executes a multi‑year facility plan and deep interceptor rehabilitation work, pass‑through costs will increase the amount villages must collect from residents or draw from utility reserves.

Qualls summarized the 2021 facility plan and the status of several capital projects now under construction, noting some sewers date from the 1930s. He described temporary bypass piping in downtown work zones and said the district is using reserves to smooth near‑term customer impacts while issuing low‑interest state revolving loans for construction; he also said the district does not qualify for principal forgiveness under the State Revolving Fund formula because its service‑area median household income is too high.

Board reaction and next steps: Trustees asked for household impact estimates and clarification on what utilities control. Staff later directed preparation of proposed rate documents: a 3% water rate change (pass‑through and simplified rate case), a 9% sanitary sewer increase (to cover operations and pass‑through treatment charges) and a 10% stormwater increase; those figures were to be returned with per‑household dollar impacts and published before any public hearing.

A representative of NEWater said the district plans to manage some near‑term pressure with reserves but emphasized that long‑term capital investment will keep upward pressure on rates and that the district’s year‑to‑year cost increases typically outpace CPI.

What the board will do next: Staff will return with detailed bill‑impact calculations and a formal rate package for hearings and possible adoption in early 2026.