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Water more expensive coming and going

Cliff Thompson

If you live in the eastern half of Eagle County, water and sewer service will become a little more expensive when 2003 ends.

How much depends on where you live. Sewer fees for customers from East Vail to Wolcott will increase 3 percent while sewer tap fees will increase by 10 percent, effective Jan. 2.

The price hikes are needed to keep up with the increasing cost of providing service, and to build additional capacity, said Becky Bultemeier, finance manager for the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, which administers water and sewer rates.



Last year water rates from Dowd Junction to Wolcott increased 5 percent while rates in Vail increased 2.2 percent.

If you live in a home that’s 3,000 square feet or less and use an average of 7,000 gallons per month, the cost of your monthly sewer bill will increase from $27.72 per month to $28.55, or $9.96 per year.

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Water rates reflect both the differing cost of treatment in Vail and farther downvalley as well as the fact that in Vail water rates are cheaper because they are partially paid by property tax, Bultemeier said.

Water rates for customers living east of Dowd Junction, in the area served by Eagle River Water and Sanitation, will increase 5 percent. If you live in a home that’s 3,000 square feet or less, and use and average of 7,000 gallons per month, your monthly bill will increase from $17 to $17.85, or $210.20 per year.

From Dowd Junction to Wolcott, if you own a home of 3,000 square feet or less and are using an average of 7,000 gallons per month you now pay $32.78 a month. After the increase, you will pay $33.77 a month, or just under $12 more per year for water.

Tap fees also were hiked by both districts. East of Dowd Junction, in the area served by the Eagle River Water and SAnitation District, tap fees were hiked

10 percent, from $10,140 for a 3,000-square-foot home to $1,154. West of Dowd Junction to Wolcott, the area served by the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority, the rate for the same-sized home will increase from $4,050 today to $4,171.50.

Sewer tap fees charged to a home of 3,000 square-feet from East Vail to Wolcott will increase from $5,940 today to $6,534 after Jan. 2.

Bultemeier said if you would like to pre-pay tap fees for building planned later in the year, you still can take advantage of existing rates.

Cliff Thompson can be reached at 970-949-0555 x450 or cthompson@vaildaily.com


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