Column: Dirk Knudsen – Editor
The stories of our water, where it comes from, who uses it, and how much we have are everywhere. But how much do we really know about it? How much do you know? One thing is for sure; it is disappearing and being used at an overwhelming rate.
In the next couple of weeks, the focus will be on the cost of our water here in Hillsboro. Utility rate meetings are boring and rarely attended by anyone. But that is about to change. The Herald has been making inquiries for about 2 months now and seeking answers to a specific set of questions. Answers have been slow to come and measured in response. But enough information is coming in that we can now share some of it with all of you. We will be doing that in a series of articles coming in the next month.
The Hillsboro City Council has met with Hillsboro Water Department in recent months and heard of the coming rate increases with a chance to comment. The City of Hillsboro Utilities Commission sets water rates for Hillsboro Water’s service area. All of you will be paying more in the next few years..a lot more. Rate increases have already been slated for the next two years, 2023 & 2024, and more are certain to come.
Let’s start the series off by informing all of you about a hearing coming up next Monday, September 19th, 2022. The meeting will be online and in-person meeting. There will be one of those on October 3rd, 2022. The Herald is expecting some decent attendance as water shut-offs of some of Hillsboro’s most vulnerable citizens have raised the concerns of Western Farm Workers Association . They have had several of their members cut off from water as rate increases gouged them. They have lobbied city hall and are working regionally to try to raise awareness of the problem.
Other citizens are beginning to wake up to this issue.
Here are the proposed rate changes that are being discussed and that will be voted on and confirmed at these meetings and hearings.
Powerpoint slide provided by Hillsboro Water Department
That is about a 9 % raise on our current rates. Over two years that will equate to a 20% increase. The Herald, based on meetings we have attended and information we have, believes this trend line may continue for years to come. Before we move on to our next article on who is using our water, we want you to all make sure to be informed and get involved. There is much you can learn by getting involved and asking questions. Meetings are hearings like these are really the only way to get answers to questions in a public forum and that is very important.
Here is the information as posted by the City of Hillsboro and how you can attend the virtual or IN PERSON meeting on Monday. We hope to see you there.
Water Rate Community Conversation
- Date:09/19/2022 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
- Location: Hybrid (Virtual & In-Person)
In-Person
- Civic Center, 150 East Main Street, Room 113, Hillsboro, OR 97123
Virtual (Zoom Meeting
- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82985933987?pwd=ejFheTlJWHVOSk5vTlJVdjl1TzdnQT09
- Meeting ID: 829 8593 3987
- Passcode: 325417
- Dial by your location
- +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
- Meeting ID: 829 8593 3987
- Passcode: 325417
- Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kejzNWOJqt
I agree we should be informed and involved. But how is $115 per month a bad deal for all the clean, safe drinking water we need (plus sewer management and more)? It’s one of our top 3 necessities to stay alive but it costs a fraction of what we pay for shelter and food here. $5 gets us 4 bottles of water at the store OR 748 gallons of water at home. That utility bill also includes the cost of carrying away and treating our waste water. That alone makes it seem like a bargain to me. The costs of chlorine and other aspects of treating and transporting our water are going up. It costs money to maintain and introduce new infrastructure. This second water source was identified as a critical need for our growing region. Millions in grants have been secured to help ease the burden on customers. I think a four dollar a month increase over the next year is manageable for the vast majority of us. Yes, attend the meetings, ask the questions, and keep in mind the value of what we get for the money.