Peterborough’s water bills rise due to new rates and project costs

Many Peterborough residents saw a jump in their water bills after the town’s new rates went into effect this month.

Town Administrator Nicole MacStay said the change in rates, which residents on town water will see reflected in their bills, happened for several reasons.

“The first, and most impactful, is that at the 2019 Town Meeting voters approved the Cold Stone Springs Well Project to ensure that Peterborough has access to sustainable, clean water now and into the future.  The bond payments for this project, communicated at the time of the vote, start this year,” MacStay said on Oct. 27.

The Rodney Bartlett Water Treatment Facility at Cold Stone Springs, a joint water infrastructure project with Jaffrey, was officially opened on Aug. 25.

According to Assistant Town Administrator Seth MacLean, Peterborough had been searching for a new aquifer to provide town water for about a decade.

The new facility, which had been under construction since 2021, includes three new wells, a water treatment plants and 14,000 feet of water main.  Peterborough and Jaffrey will share the cost of all future operations.

MacStay said that a recent change to Peterborough’s water rate system is also affecting water bills.

“At their meeting on June 3^rd, the Select Board adopted a new rate system that encourages conservation.  Since a rate change had to take place to meet the cost of the bond payments, the Select Board took the opportunity to also respond to residents’ desire to encourage conservation and set up a tiered rate system,” MacStay said.

According to the town, the new rates are designed to encourage households to cut down on water use and use water more efficiently.

“The new water rates are progressive, meaning each cubic foot of water is billed according to the tier it falls into,” MacStay stated. “For example, a customer using 1,500 cubic feet of water in a quarter would be billed the minimum service charge rate for the first 300 cubic fee, the Tier 1 rate for usage from 301 to 1000 cubic feet, and the Tier 2 rate for usage from 1001 to 1500 cubic feet.”

According to MacStay, the new system “ensures that higher usage is billed at higher rates, encouraging efficient water use.”

She said the town has received both complaints and positive feedback from residents about the new tiered billing system.

“We’ve had inquiries from folks who just wanted to understand the process better, how the rate model works, and questions about how they can control their personal water usage,” MacStay said.

She said some residents have contacted the town, believing their usage rate was in error, only to realize there were other factors at play.

“One individual who did reach out was shocked to see a sudden jump in consumption, but after talking to our staff, this person realized that they had a guest staying with them for most of the summer, which drove water usage up far more than they expected.  Another individual who contacted us came to understand that the construction work done on their house had required a significant amount of water, and that had a big impact on their quarterly bill,” MacStay said. “We really encourage anyone with questions or concerns to contact us here at the town directly.”

The Water Department recommends that residents who do extensive outdoor irrigation should look into installing an irrigation meter.

“If your gardens are extensive and your water usage dramatically increases in the warmer months, you may want to consider installing an irrigation meter,” MacStay said.

The Town of Peterborough recommends residents follow water conservation tips as listed on the town website at peterboroughnh.gov/departments/public_works/new_water_and_sewer_rates.php.

All Peterborough residents are encouraged to call 603-924-800, email  administration@peterboroughnh.gov or make an appointment for any concerns about their water and sewer bills.