Dartmouth board approves water and sewer rate increases as biosolids and capital costs rise

The Dartmouth Board of Public Works voted unanimously on July 22 to approve a 7.5% increase in water rates and a 16% increase in sewer rates, both listed with an effective date of July 1, 2026. The board recorded the motions and votes on the record (Mister Gagne moved; the Chair seconded; both voted yes).

Superintendent Tim presented the recommended changes and walked the board through the drivers: a significant increase in the town's purchased water costs from New Bedford and rising town overheads (the presentation referenced a $572,000 overhead increase). He told the board the wastewater fund faces a new recurring disposal cost for biosolids once the contract changes in October; staff estimated that disposal could cost about $100,000 per month starting then. Tim said the rates are designed both to cover rising operating costs and to rebuild retained earnings that will be needed to finance large, near‑term capital projects, including a $6 million–$7 million aeration project at the wastewater facility.

Mister Gagne and other board members emphasized negotiation with New Bedford for a volumetric discount. "I think it's a good opportunity to have discussions with their water board about when we reach certain thresholds...that we would get some volumetric discount," Mister Gagne said, noting Dartmouth has been buying significant volumes while some local production wells remain offline. Tim said staff and the town's new business manager have already reached out to New Bedford to request a sit‑down to discuss tiered pricing and intermunicipal agreement terms.

Board members also pressed staff to explore less costly or more environmentally sensitive options for biosolids management rather than long‑distance incineration, and asked for work plans describing how the increased revenue would be used to fund capital projects. The board approved the water and sewer rates on the motions recorded in the meeting and closed that agenda item.

The board requested staff follow up with an outline of alternatives for rate structure and a plan for pursuing intermunicipal negotiations with New Bedford. The superintendent said staff will return with more detailed rate‑structure alternatives and supporting spreadsheets.