Sewer and stormwater rates in the City of Bradford will increase in the new year, but the news isn’t all bad. The increase is far less than inflation was in the same timeframe.
On Tuesday, the Bradford Sanitary Authority approved its 2024 budget.
“Despite record levels of inflationary pressure and skyrocketing costs over the last two years, the authority did not raise rates for 2023 and is keeping an increase for 2024 to only 4% despite inflation over the same timeframe being at 10%,” said Executive Director Steve Disney.
“Costs continue to be near record highs including utilities, chemicals, healthcare, fuel, pipe, fittings and lab supplies. Wastewater sewer rates will increase from $36 to $37.50 per month, and overage charges from $7.20 to $7.50,” he continued.
“On stormwater, monthly rates for residential will increase from $9.25 to $9.60 per month, while commercial and industrial will increase monthly from $3.36 to $3.49 per 1,000 square feet of impervious area,” Disney said.
Bradford’s sanitary rates remain at the state average, while the stormwater rates in the state average from $7.25 per month to $18.33 per month.
“The proposed 2024 budget includes revenue projections of $4,492,489, capital outlay of $700,000, and debt service loan payments of $1,218,105,” Disney said.
Wages include for Disney as executive director, $91,941.05; office manager $84,915.56; operations manager $98,361.64; business manager $79,765.00; and hourly wage classifications ranging from $30.85/hour to $34.98/hour.
“Successful capital projects in 2023 included a plant JMS upgrade, backup server and UPS upgrades, and new underground televising camera trailer,” Disney continued. “Regarding the systemwide sanitary and stormwater asset assessments performed in 2023, over five miles of sanitary sewer mains and eight miles of stormwater mains have been cleaned/flushed/video inspected/recorded and assessed using NASSCO certified ratings.”
The Pennsylvania Rural Water Association (PRWA) has scheduled a certified training course to be held at the authority’s wastewater treatment plant Feb. 21. The course topic will be hydraulics, pumps and bearings and the instructor is former BSA employee Brian Little. The course will offer six water/wastewater continuing education credits.
Discussing the treatment plant, Disney said the importance of having a designated helipad for emergency air medical transport for the community was highlighted last week with a motor vehicle accident that occurred just outside of the wastewater treatment plant main gates on Seaward Avenue. Foster Township Police are investigating.
In other matters, Disney explained the authority needs to be vigilant with security.
“Cyber security continues to be a focus for us as we see new threats, attacks and malicious actions occurring across the world,” Disney said. “BSA continues to review and update training activities and monitors for issues that could be problematic.”
Iran-aligned hacktivists Cyber Av3ngers compromised operations at a Pennsylvania water authority last month. Known for targeting critical infrastructure, the group took partial control of a Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa water booster station. The group claiming responsibility was reportedly targeting systems made by Israeli company Unitronics and made similar global attacks recently at nearly a dozen stations in Israel.
Disney said the equipment and systems compromised in Aliquippa are not those used in operations here.
