Heads up, Hampton residents: Your wastewater bill could increase, thanks to aging system repairs
Hampton is considering a wastewater fee increase that would see the average customer’s bill increase by almost $11 a month.
Public Works Director Jason Mitchell recommended the City Council increase the fee to accommodate mandated infrastructure improvements, including pipe repairs, as part of the next city budget. The majority of Hampton’s wastewater system is over 65 years old, according to Mitchell. By 2040, 33% of the city’s wastewater system will be 100.
The wastewater system’s age means many of the city’s pipes need repairs because of cracks and other damage. City spokesperson Robin McCormick said based on 2022 cost estimates, Hampton will need to spend $106 million in capital projects by 2030 and another $124 million by 2040.
Discussion about the possible wastewater fee increase came last week as the City Council held a lengthy work session at the Hampton Roads Convention Center to discuss the budget and gauge this year’s priorities.
Currently, the wastewater fee is $1.92 per 100 cubic feet and the surcharge fee is $0.94 per $100 cubic feet. Because home usage in the city averages about 668 cubic feet or 5,000 gallons, Hampton estimates the average combined monthly wastewater bill is roughly $19.
The proposal is to increase the wastewater fee to $2.38 for fiscal year 2025 (a 46-cent increase) and the wastewater surcharge fee to $2.12 (a $1.18 increase). Based on the average home usage of 668 cubic feet per month, this would result in a monthly bill of around $30.
While the wastewater rate won’t be finalized until later this year, most of the council indicated support for the proposed increase.
Hampton Roads localities have been operating under a regional effort to meet goals for improving water quality. McCormick said the city has been operating under a memorandum of agreement that is enforced by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
The localities serve customers by collecting wastewater and moving it through pipes and pump stations to the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, which operates extensive pipe systems and treatment plants.
These agreements have been in place since FY14, and Hampton has invested $19.5 million in related projects since then, according to McCormick.
Hampton’s memorandum of agreement with the sanitation district and the state established priorities for work that needs to be done by 2030 and 2040. McCormick explained that because construction costs have increased tremendously, all the older cities have to spend significantly more money on rehabbing pipes while also facing increased costs just to operate utility systems.
She said the state mandates are all for good reason — “the health of the public and the health of our waterways,” but noted they are “very expensive.”
Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com
