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Water Pollution Control Authority approves FY2027 sewer fee increases; staff outline EPA grant status for UV system
Summary
The Water Pollution Control Authority approved proposed FY2027 sewer user fee increases — including a residential rate rise from $155 to $160 per bedroom — and discussed a partially funded U.S. EPA grant for a planned ultraviolet disinfection system and parts availability.
The New Canaan Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) voted to approve proposed changes to sewer user fees for fiscal year 2027 at a special meeting and public hearing on June 9. The authority approved an increase in the residential sewer user fee from $155 to $160 per bedroom and endorsed approximately 3–4% average increases across commercial rate categories.
The vote followed a staff presentation that said the residential change represents a roughly 3.3% increase and that overall sewer fund expenses are expected to rise about 3–4% in FY2027. A presenter read the public-notice rates line by line, listing category rates for commercial users and confirming that the septage disposal fee would remain $105 per 1,000 gallons. After a motion to adopt the proposed changes was seconded (the second was recorded as Michael), the authority voted in favor; no opposing votes were recorded and the motion carried.
Why it matters: the increases will affect residential bills calculated by bedroom count and reset several commercial rate tiers. Authority members said the adjustments align with the sewer system’s operating budget and anticipated expense increases for the coming year.
During the same meeting, members and staff discussed federal grant funding and replacement of an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system at the plant. A presenter recalled an earlier expectation of a $2 million contribution for the UV system but said the award that arrived was smaller: “we received a 1.365,” as stated in the transcript. Staff explained they would meet next week with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program manager and had already met with their grant writer, Greg Riley, and a plant representative, Nick, to prepare questions for that meeting. The presenter said the received funds would be applied toward construction costs but that the total project cost is larger than the amount awarded.
Members also raised an operational concern: parts for existing UV systems are scarce and expensive. Staff said they have purchased spare parts to maintain current operations and emphasized they will pursue EPA approval and grant processes before beginning construction. A staff speaker noted, “Typically takes a couple of months to run through the process of the grant,” and cautioned that grant processes are not fast.
What wasn’t in the record: the transcript contains fragmented numeric references surrounding the grant award (for example, the figure quoted as “1.365” and a later fragmented number), and the record does not clearly specify whether those figures are in thousands or millions. The authority did not publish a roll-call vote tally by name in the transcript beyond recording no opposition; the motion was recorded as carried.
The WPCA meeting adjourned after the vote and discussion. The board planned to reconvene shortly for a separate Board of Finance meeting to consider the town’s mill rate, fund balance, and financial estimates.
