Middleboro’s Board of Selectmen, late on Monday night,  increased the sewer rate by 15 percent and the water rate by 4 percent. The hikes are retroactive to July 1, 2011 and will bring in a combined total of about $288,000 in revenue a year.

Water rates will rise by 4 percent, costing a family of four an average of $22 a year. The town has almost 6,000 water customers so the hike will generate an additional $140,000 a year.

Sewer rates have been hiked by 15 percent, and will cost a family of four more than $40 a year. There are more than 1,500 sewer customers so the rate hike will generate about $148,000 annually.

According to town manager, Charles Cristello, the increases are needed to fund upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater Superintendent Todd Goldman said it will cost $20 million to $40 million to upgrade the existing facility by 2017. Cristello said the hike to water rates will provide capital for new wells, water treatment plants and a new storage tank.

Source: Enterprise News, July 27, 2011