Henderson Water Utility plans to raise water, wastewater, and stormwater rates for the first time in five years to help offset rising operation costs.
During a special called Henderson City Commission meeting, Henderson Water Utility General Manager Bart Boles explained the utility plans to stagger the rate increases over five years.
“What we’re proposing is to do a $5 fixed rate over three years, five dollars each year,” Boles said.
Stormwater rates would be raised first, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Then a water rate increase would take effect as of Jan. 1, 2026, followed by a wastewater increase as of Jan. 1, 2027.
“We’re trying to ease the pain just a little bit by doing it over three years. It’s something that needs to be done,” Boles said. “We’ve been able to weather the storm but it’s something that’s been on our mind for a few years and it’s also something we need to do.”
Henderson Water Utility manages water, wastewater and stormwater operations for about 50,000 customers in Henderson, Webster and McLean counties. HWU oversees more than 205 water mains, about 190 sewer mains and 136 stormwater mains and ditches, said Boles.
HWU has two water treatment plants, two wastewater treatment plants, and operates 57 sewer pump stations.
Inflation has made operating facilities more expensive for everything from fuel to chemicals to bonding for larger projects, Boles said.
He said HWU has seen its operations expenses go up about 10 percent and capital costs by 15 percent in the last five years. HWU has an aging infrastructure that needs to be replaced, Boles said. Some sewer mains are up to 130 years old.
Due to the rising operations costs, HWU asked the Henderson City Commission to consider raising the rates.
The commission had discussed the topic at length in a work session before approving first reading of an ordinance adopting water rate and service schedules during its special called meeting held Tuesday. Ordinances require a second reading before taking effect.
Note: The following rate table charts drafts were attached to the City of Henderson Board of Commissioners’ Meeting Agenda for December 10th.
RATE TABLE A
(Effective 01/01/2025)
| Water and Wastewater Rates Inside City Limits | ||
| Fixed Charges | Water & Wastewater | Stormwater |
| 6″ and Larger | $300.00 | [$150.00] $300.00 |
| 3” and 4″ | $200.00 | [$100.00] $200.00 |
| 2″ | $80.00 | ($25.00] $50.00 |
| 1-1/2″ | $30.00 | ($10.00] $20.00 |
| 1-1/4″ and less | $15.00 | [$5.00] $10.00 |
| Metered Water Charges | Water/1,000 gallons Wastewater /1,000 gallons | |
| First 37,500 gallons | $3.67 $7.35 | |
| Over 37,500 gallons | $2.80 $5.34 | |
RATE TABLE A
(Effective O1/01/2026)
| Water and Wastewater Rates Inside City Limits | ||
| Fixed Charges | Water & Wastewater | Stormwater |
| 6″ and Larger | ($300.001 $450.00 | $300.00 |
| 3″ and 4″ | [$200.00) $300.00 | $200.00 |
| 2″ | ($60.00] $107.50 | $50.00 |
| 1-1/2″ | ($30.00] $40.00 | $20.00 |
| 1-1/4″ and less | ($15.00) $20.00 $10.00 | |
| Metered Water Charges | Water/1,000 gallons Wastewater /1,000 gallons | |
| First 37,500 gallons | $3.67 $7.35 | |
| Over 37,500 gallons | $2.80 $5.34 | |
RATE TABLE A
(Effective O1/0 1/2027)
| Water and Wastewater Rates Inside City Limits | ||
| Fixed Charges | Water & Wastewater | Stormwater |
| 6″ and Larger | E450.00J $600.00 | $300.00 |
| 3″ and 4″ | E$300.00J $400.oo | $200.00 |
| 2″ | E$~0+.50J $135.oo | $50.00 |
| 1-1 /2″ | E$40.00J $50.00 | $20.00 |
| 1-1/4″ and less | E$20.00J $25.oo | $10.00 |
| Metered Water Charges | Water/1,000 gallons Wastewater /1,000 gallons | |
| First 37,500 gallons | $3.67 $7.35 | |
| Over 37,500 gallons | $2.80 $5.34 | |
RATE TABLE B
(Effective 01/01/2026)
| Water and Wastewater Rates Outside City Limits | ||
| Fixed Charges | Water | Wastewater |
| 6″ and Larger | ($H5.00) $350.00 | $175.00 |
| 3″ and 4″ | ($125.00) $250.00 | $125.00 |
| 2″ | ($50.00) $87.50 | $50.00 |
| 1-1 /2″ ($25.00) $43.75 $25.00 | ||
| 1-1/4″ and less ($10.00) $17.50 $10.00 | ||
| Metered Water Charges Water/1,000 gallons Wastewater/1,000 gallons | ||
| First 37,500 gallons $9.19 $11.42 | ||
| Over 37,500 gallons $2.80 $5.34 | ||
RATE TABLE B
(Effective 01 /01/2027)
| Water and Wastewater Rates Outside City Limits | ||
| Fixed Charges | Water | Wastewater |
| 6″ and Larger | $350.00 | ($175.00) $350.00 |
| 3″ and 4″ | $250.00 | ($125.00) $250 .00 |
| 2″ | $87.50 | ($50.00) $87.50 |
| 1-1/2″ | $43.75 | E$25.00J $43.75 |
| 1-1/4″ and less | $17.50 | ($10.00) $17.50 |
| Metered Water Charges | Water/1,000 gallons | Wastewater/1,000 gallons |
| First 37,500 gallons | $9.19 | $11.42 |
| Over 37,500 gallons | $2.80 | $5.34 |
Comments