2026 Sewer Rate Increase: FAQs

Q: Why is the City of Elkins increasing sewer rates?

The primary reason for this rate adjustment is to fund critical repairs and upgrades to Elkins’ aging wastewater system. These investments are essential to ensure the system remains reliable, efficient, and in compliance with state and federal environmental regulations for years to come.

Think of this decision as one would make when maintaining a home: Postponing a new roof or an HVAC replacement might save money today, but it leads to much costlier emergencies and failures down the road. The City’s sewer system, with some parts dating back to the original 1986 plant, requires significant and planned investment to prevent failures that could harm public health and the environment.

Q: If some of these increases are because of federal regulations, why can all 49 other states manage this with lower average utility costs?

This is a fair and common question. While the Clean Water Act sets baseline environmental standards for the entire country, the cost to meet those standards is not uniform. It is determined by a community’s local circumstances. Comparing Elkins’ rates to a national or state average is often like comparing the maintenance costs of a historic home to those of a newly built one.

Key factors that drive costs in Elkins include:

• Infrastructure age and condition: Elkins has an older system, including combined sewer systems (where stormwater and sewage share pipes) that are expensive to upgrade and are currently under a federal consent decree that mandate the City of Elkins pay for improvements.
• Local funding requirements: West Virginia law requires that sewer utilities be entirely self-supporting. The City of Elkins cannot use general tax dollars to pay for sewer operations or repairs. Every dollar for maintenance, upgrades, and compliance must come from the rates that our customers pay.
• Population density and terrain: With approximately 6,900 residents spread across its area; given our hilly terrain (which makes excavation expensive); and our relatively extreme freeze-thaw cycles, the cost of infrastructure per customer is higher than in denser, more temperate, or flatter cities.
• Timing of investments: Some communities made major capital investments decades ago and are still paying off that debt. Elkins is at a point where significant, unavoidable investments are needed now to replace aging equipment and meet regulatory requirements.

In short, it’s not that other states are “managing better.” It’s that they often have different infrastructure, different funding models, or made these investments at a different time. A review of rates in similar small cities (populations of 5,000-10,000) shows that Elkins is not an outlier, and many face comparable or even higher bills due to similar infrastructure needs.

Out of about 300 sewer utilities in WV, about 150 have higher rates than Elkins.

Q: What are the specific costs driving this rate increase?

The wastewater department operates like a business, with significant expenses for equipment, chemicals, regulatory compliance, and energy. Here are just a few examples of the costs the utility must cover, many of which have risen sharply in recent years:

Major equipment and repairs:

• Lift station pumps: A single 35HP motor replacement costs $60,000 (or $25,000 to rebuild). The City has 11 lift stations, many requiring multiple pumps for redundancy. For just one station, three pumps can cost $180,000.
• Standby Generators: To ensure the system operates during power outages, the City’s wastewater department would require five new generators at an estimated $70,000 each, totaling $350,000.
• Interceptor replacement: The North and South Interceptor lines are in critical need of replacement at a cost of $2.2 million.
• Belt press repairs: This equipment is vital for processing solids. Belt replacements cost at least $7,000; replacing four steering cylinders would total $20,000.
• Flow meters: Elkins requires 14 new flow meters for our Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) sites at $16,000 each, totaling $224,000; plus, there is an additional cost with $14,000 annual calibration schedule.

Regulatory compliance and operations:

• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES Permit): Elkins’ mandatory pollution discharge permit costs $6,500 annually, with a $7,000 fee every five years for renewal. This is a regulation that dates back to the early 1970s with the federal government’s passage of the Clean Water Act.
• Laboratory and chemicals: We must outfit and supply an on-site lab to run required tests. Such costs include $20,000 for two samplers; a $7,000 drying oven; $14,000 a year in polymer chemicals, and a 7% annual trend increase for contract sample analysis.
• Stormwater separation projects: Separating stormwater from sewage is a major regulatory driver. One single project, like the one on Stewart Avenue, is estimated at $3 million.

Rising Operational Costs:

• Monthly electric bill: Just to run the current plant costs the Wastewater Department approximately $15,000 per month.
• Material costs: The cost of pipes, castings, and fittings has increased by 30%.
• Potential future costs: If we were forced to cease our current, lower-cost method of land-applying biosolids and move to landfill disposal, it would add an estimated $124,000 per year in operating costs.

State Requirements to Set Aside Funds:

State law also requires the City’s sewer utility to set aside a certain percentage of its operating costs each month into restricted reserve accounts. These deposits are mandatory and must be made every month, regardless of how much money has already been deposited.

Currently, the system must deposit approximately $13,527 per month into a restricted emergency reserve account and approximately $6,340 per month into a required repair and replacement reserve, for a combined total of about $19,867.61 per month. These funds may only be used for urgent non-budgeted expenses and emergencies. They cannot be used for routine operating expenses such as payroll, utilities, or supplies.

This list is not exhaustive, but it illustrates the significant financial obligations of maintaining a modern, compliant wastewater system. A more detailed 10-year projection will be available upon the completion of the department’s Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP).

Q: How were these new rates calculated?

The rate structure is the result of a comprehensive financial study the Sanitary Board initiated in October 2025. The Wastewater Department’s advisory firm, Griffith & Associates, analyzed the City’s accounting and operational records in accordance with standards of practice directed by the West Virginia Public Service Commission. The department, and the City’s Sanitary Board, has worked closely with Elkins’ leaders and advisors to anticipate future financial impacts from required capital projects and inflationary pressures on equipment and supplies.

Q: Why a three-year plan with multiple increases?

The Sanitary Board and City Council were deliberate in choosing a phased approach. The City’s goal is to provide the funding necessary to operate and invest in the system without being excessive. By spreading the increases over three years (beginning May 15, 2026), we allow our customers time to adjust to the new rate levels, rather than imposing one large, sudden increase.

Q: Is it true that the sewer system has to pay for itself? Why can’t the City use tax dollars to lower my bill?

West Virginia law requires sewer utilities to be self-sustaining. This is not a policy choice by City Council.

WV Code 6-9-3 states:

• “[No] public service industry shall benefit in any financial manner whatever by an appropriation or fund made for the support of another department, public improvement, undertaking, institution or public service industry.”

In plain terms, this means that general tax dollars cannot be used to subsidize sewer operations. A 1979 West Virginia Attorney General opinion reinforced this rule, stating that municipalities may not use other funds to avoid raising utility rates to legally required levels. State agencies, including the State Auditor, rely on that interpretation.

WV Code 16-13-16 further requires that sewer rates be sufficient each year to cover operation, repair, replacement, and maintenance costs. In other words, the system must generate enough revenue from its own rates to cover its actual expenses, as determined by professional rate studies (such as the one performed for this increase by Griffiths & Associates).

When the City of Elkins issues bonds for infrastructure projects, it also commits to set rates high enough to cover operating costs, debt payments, and required reserves. These are binding financial obligations.

These rules ensure transparency and accountability by keeping utility finances separate from general government funds.

To learn more about how these different parts of city government are accounted for, read this explainer.

Q: Why does my sewer service often cost more than my water service, even though I don’t see it?

This is one of the most common questions we hear, and it highlights a critical point: while you see and use the water coming into your home, managing what goes out is a far more complex, regulated, and infrastructure-heavy process. Think of it this way: providing clean water is like pumping fresh air into a room. Treating wastewater is like scrubbing every particle of dust and pollutant out of the air before releasing it back outside—it requires much more equipment, energy, and chemistry.

Here’s why the cost is higher:

• Intense regulation: Wastewater treatment is one of the most heavily regulated public utilities. We must operate under a strict National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which mandates daily testing, monitoring, and reporting to ensure the water returned to the environment meets rigorous clean water standards.
• Complex and expensive process: The treatment process involves multiple stages—screening, settling, aeration, and disinfection—that require massive amounts of energy, costly chemicals (like the $14,000 a year we spend on polymer), and a fully equipped on-site laboratory.
• Infrastructure demands: The system must manage not only household sewage but also stormwater in many areas. Maintaining and upgrading this network of pipes, lift stations (with pumps costing up to $60,000 each), and the main plant itself is a significant and ongoing expense.

In short, the cost reflects the immense responsibility of protecting public health and the Tygart Valley River by ensuring that every drop of water leaving your home is thoroughly cleaned before it returns to the environment.

Q: When will these changes take effect and appear on my bill?

The new rates will take effect on the following dates, and will first appear on customer bills mailed at the end of June in each respective year:

• May 15, 2026: 15% increase
• May 15, 2027: 12% increase
• May 15, 2028: 15% increase

Q: How will this rate increase affect my specific bill? I’ve heard the term “average residential customer” used.

We understand residents want to know exactly what this means for their household. To provide a clear and consistent answer, we use a benchmark established by the West Virginia Public Service Commission (WVPSC). For comparing rates across the state, the PSC uses 3,400 gallons per month as the standard for an “average residential customer.”

Based on this 3,400-gallon benchmark, here is how the monthly sewer charge is projected to increase over the three-year plan:

• Let’s say the current average bill is $45.00
• Effective May 15, 2026 (15% increase): [that rate would then increase to $51.75]
• Effective May 15, 2027 (12% increase): [that rate would then increase to $58.00]
• Effective May 15, 2028 (15% increase): [that rate would then increase to $66.70]

It is important to understand what this “average” means for your own home:

• If your household uses less than 3,400 gallons per month, your bill will be lower than the figures shown above.
• If your household uses more than 3,400 gallons per month, your bill will be higher.

For example, a family of four with efficient fixtures might use around 5,000 gallons per month, which is considered a normal and efficient level of use. A household at this usage level would see a higher bill than the “average” figures listed, as their bill is calculated based on their actual consumption.

To understand how the new rates will specifically impact your household, please review the consumption chart. (Keep in mind that we charge per gallon; the rows in the chart are provided only as examples of costs at various levels of usage.)

Q: Is the City of Elkins exploring grants or other funding sources to lower the cost? I understand we need repairs; can’t we just get grants to pay for everything instead of raising rates?

This is an excellent question, and the City is aggressively pursuing grant funding for major projects. Our staff actively applies for funding through programs like the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), the Infrastructure Jobs and Development Council (IJDC), USDA Rural Development, and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

However, there are two critical points to understand about grant funding:

1. Grants are for projects, not daily operations: Grant money is almost exclusively restricted to “capital improvements”—the big, visible projects like replacing the North Interceptor line or separating storm sewers on Stewart Avenue. Grants cannot be used to pay for day-to-day operational costs, such as the $15,000 monthly electric bill, purchasing chemicals for treatment, or repairing a broken pump. These ongoing “Operations and Maintenance” (O&M) expenses must be covered by sewer rate revenue.
2. Grants often require a local match: Many grant programs do not cover 100% of a project’s cost. They may require a local funding match, which can come from loans or, you guessed it, rate revenue. Furthermore, even for a project partially paid for by a grant, the City must still have the financial capacity to operate and maintain that new, expensive infrastructure for decades to come. A rate increase demonstrates to grant providers that the City has a sustainable plan to support the project over its entire lifespan, making us more competitive for those very funds.

Q: Where can I see all of the bonds Elkins has issued for its water and wastewater utilities?

Click on the link below from the Municipal Bond Commission website. Search under the letter “E” for Elkins. You can then click on the bond documents for all the water and sewer bonds that the City of Elkins has issued and is currently paying off:

https://mbc.wv.gov/bondtranscripts/Pages/Search-Results.aspx?SearchBondTranscripts=E

Currently, the City of Elkins makes payments on bonds that every month amount to $86,443.29, or a total of $1,037,319.48 annually. The wastewater department’s average monthly revenues for this fiscal year are $267,006.

Wastewater System Chief Operator (Class IV)

Whitney Hymes

304-636-1122 (office)
whymes@cityofelkinswv.gov

City Clerk

Sutton Stokes

304-636-1414, ext. 1211 (office)
suttonstokes@cityofelkinswv.gov