News Release Page

Portsmouth

Portsmouth Water and Fire District customers can expect a jump in water rates this year and for the next two years.  According to Administrative Board Chairman, Philip T. Driscoll, the Board voted to increase its water rates by 11.88% for fiscal year 2014, which began on May 1^st.  Mr. Driscoll also indicated that the District water rates are projected to increase by an additional 11.88% in fiscal year 2015 and 9.33% in fiscal year 2016.  These increases will help off-set significant wholesale water rate increases from the City of Newport, which are necessary to fund the $84 million replacement of the Lawton Valley Water Treatment Plant in Portsmouth and the upgrade of the Station One Water Treatment Plant in Newport.  Construction of the plants began in 2012 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014. 

Mr. Driscoll indicated that the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission granted a water rate increase to Newport Water on May 1, 2013, which resulted in a 36.8% increase in the wholesale cost of water to the District. This increase included 17.7% for new debt service for the Newport treatment plants project and 19.1% to adjust the District’s wholesale rate based on a Commission approved cost of service study. In addition, a wholesale rate increase to the District of approximately 24% is expected to take effect on July 1, 2014 to fund additional debt service for the Newport treatment plants project. Mr. Driscoll noted that the Board voted to use $347,000 of cash reserves accrued from prior water sales to off-set the large increase in the wholesale cost of water in fiscal years 2014 and 2015.

Mr. McGlinn, General Manger and Chief Engineer for the District indicated that the treatment plant work is required to enable Newport Water, Portsmouth Water and the Navy to meet current and future federal Safe Drinking Water Act water quality standards. Since 2000, the three island water suppliers have seen numerous violations of the act’s Disinfectants/Disinfection By-products Rule, specifically for trihalomethanes, or TTHMs. The rules for the maximum level for TTHMs will become more restrictive starting in 2013, making compliance by the island’s water suppliers very unlikely with the current state of the Newport treatment plants. TTHMs, which the EPA classifies as a potential carcinogen, are a by-product formed when chlorine used in water treatment reacts with organic matter in the raw and treated water. In addition, Mr. McGlinn noted that the new treatment processes at the plants will be better able to treat the water for seasonal taste and odor problems, which have been a source of complaints over the years.

In addition to the increased cost of water purchased from Newport, Mr. Driscoll said that the current and projected annual rate increases are necessary to help fund the District’s operating costs, capital improvements and debt service, including future debt service for a $1.2 million replacement of the District’s Union Street Pumping Station. Replacement of the forty-seven year-old pumping station is necessary to increase pumping capacity, improve energy efficiency and meet current codes.

A replacement meter reading system was installed by the District in fiscal year 2013, which will allow the District to read meters by radio and switch from annual to quarterly billing, as required by recent changes in state law. A replacement billing system will be purchased as part of the switch to quarterly billing in the fall of 2013. The new system will allow customers to view their water accounts and make payments on-line or by bank draft. Mr. Driscoll noted that quarterly water bills and the new billing system will help customers to better manage the increasing cost of water. The $1.3 million radio meter reading system and billing system were funded through a bond with the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency. Mr. Driscoll indicated that because the project promotes water and energy efficiency, the loan was awarded with 100% principle forgiveness, meaning that the District does not have to pay back the loan.

The Board approved an operating budget of $3,303,914, which results in an increase over last year’s operating budget of 12.80%. The Board approved a total budget of $3,577,280, which includes capital expenses, for an increase over last year’s total budget of 9.79%.

The 2013 annual minimum charge, which includes 20,000 gallons of water, will increase from $111.60 to $131.20 for a residential customer with a 5/8” meter. The 2014 overage charges per thousand gallons of water will increase from $4.97 to $5.56 for usage between 21,000 and 60,000 gallons; from $5.93 to $6.63 for usage between 61,000 and 100,000 gallons; and from $6.60 to $7.38 for all usage over 100,000 gallons. The new rates are for water used from the spring of 2013 to the spring of 2014.

In addition to the increase in water rates, the District service charges, which are included in the minimum charge and are based on meter size and type, have been increased to reflect the higher cost of meters. The service charge for a typical residential customer will be $32.00, an increase of $9.00.

The annual cost of water for an average residential customer that uses 60,000 gallons will be $353.60, an increase of $43.20. The annual cost for a customer that uses 100,000 gallons will be $618.80, an increase of $71.20.

The District’s property tax rate will remain unchanged at $0.18 per thousand dollars of assessed value. The annual district property tax is $72.00 for a property assessed at a value of $400,000. Property tax revenue represents only 15% of the District’s total revenue.

Mr. Driscoll indicated that the Board is working hard to properly maintain and improve the water system, while providing fair and reasonable rates for customers and taxpayers. He noted that there were no rate increases for fiscal year 2013. Mr. Driscoll also indicated that the Board will continue to ensure that the cost it pays for wholesale water is fair and reasonable by working with Newport Water and intervening in water rate cases before the Public Utilities Commission, as necessary.

The 2013 annual water bills, which cover water usage from the spring of 2012 to the spring of 2013, will be mailed to customers in mid-May, with payments due by July 1.

The Portsmouth Water and Fire District tested its CodeRED Emergency Communications System on July 15th and 16th. The system made 3,712 calls to presumed District residential customer phone numbers, which were combed from public databases. The system connected with over 92% of those phone numbers by reaching either a person or answering machine.

Philip Driscoll, Chairman of the District's Administrative Board, said that customers that did not receive a call are likely not in the District CodeRED data base. Mr. Driscoll also noted that the District has over 6,400 water customers and cautioned that the system is only as good as the telephone number database supporting it. Mr. Driscoll said, "If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called. One of the reasons the CodeRED system was selected is it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly into the system's database, which is an extremely important feature."

Mr. Driscoll urged all individuals and businesses to log onto the Portsmouth Water and Fire District web site at www.portsmouthwater.org and click on the "CodeRED" logo in the upper right corner of the home page to register phone numbers and email addresses. Those without Internet access may call the Portsmouth Water and Fire District's main office at (401) 683-2090, Monday through Friday, (9AM-4PM) to supply their information over the phone. Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code, and primary phone number, additional phone numbers can be entered as well.

Any customer that did not receive the test call should register. All businesses should register as they are not included in the original data base. Also, all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year, and those who use a cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number should also register.

The CodeRED system will be used by the Water District for emergency notification purposes to inform customers of boil water orders, water use restrictions, disruption of service and other emergencies. In addition, the system will be used to notify customers of scheduled work that may impact them such as water system flushing, scheduled disruption of water service and the like.

Any questions about the CodeRED should be directed to the Portsmouth Water and Fire District main office at 401-683-2090.

The Portsmouth Water and Fire District has contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license its CodeRED high-speed notification solution. The CodeRED system provides Water District officials with the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire water system customer base.

Philip Driscoll, Chairman of the District's Administrative Board, cautioned that such systems are only as good as the telephone number database supporting them. "If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called." One of the reasons the CodeRED system was selected is it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly into the system's database, which is an extremely important feature.

The Emergency Communications Network has combed public databases for the land-line phone numbers associated with District service addresses. Water District customers can provide their additional contact information such as additional phone numbers, cell numbers, email addresses and text addresses through the District's web site.

Mr. Driscoll stated, "CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for inputting information. No one should automatically assume his or her phone number is included," urging all individuals and businesses to log onto the Portsmouth Water and Fire District web site at www.portsmouthwater.org and click on the "CodeRED" logo to register phone numbers and email addresses. Those without Internet access may call the Portsmouth Water and Fire District's main office at (401) 683-2090, Monday through Friday, (9AM-4PM) to supply their information over the phone. Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code, and primary phone number, additional phone numbers can be entered as well.

All businesses should register, as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year, and those who use a cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number.

Mr. Driscoll explained, "CodeRED allows geographically based delivery, which means street addresses are required to ensure emergency notification calls are received by the proper individuals in a given situation. The system works for cell phones too, but we need to have an associated street address to provide relevant messages."

The CodeRED system will be used by the Water District for emergency notification purposes to inform customers of boil water orders, water use restrictions, disruption of service and other emergencies. In addition, the system will be used to notify customers of scheduled work that may impact them such as water system flushing, scheduled disruption of water service and the like.

The District will be testing the CodeRED Emergency Notification System on Friday, July 15th when all known phone numbers associated with District addresses will be called with a test message.

Any questions about the CodeRED should be directed to the Portsmouth Water and Fire District main office at 401-683-2090.

About Emergency Communications Network

Emergency Communications Network Inc. (ECN) provides affordable high-speed notification solutions capable of reaching millions of citizens in minutes. ECN's sophisticated network supports a web-based product suite featuring CodeRED® which enables local government officials to communicate time-sensitive, personalized messages via voice, email and text.