By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

Following the City of Saluda increasing water/sewer rates in January, city council in February added an increase in sewer rates for commercial customers.

The Saluda Board of Commissioners met Monday, Jan. 8 and approved increasing commercial sewer rates from $8.43 per 1,000 gallons to $9.81 per 1,000 gallons.

On Jan. 11 commissioners adjusted rates for water and sewer for customers in order to pay for needed capital improvements to the water and sewer system, with some projects beginning this year.

Saluda City Manager Jonathan Cannon said he recommended the increase in order to maintain parity between residential and commercial wastewater customers.

Commercial sewer customers will see the increase on their March bill from the city. All other customers saw the increases on their February bills.

Saluda has recently seen a 70 percent water loss and has approved a capital improvement plan (CIP) to make repairs to its system.

During the city’s January meeting, commissioners approved water/sewer rates increases in order to pay for the needed repairs. The city’s new rates include an additional $10 per month system maintenance fee. The city previously had a $7.50 per month user fee for all customers to pay for the Saluda/Columbus/Tryon interconnect. The new system maintenance fee combines the user fee with an additional $10 per month for a $17.50 fee total per month.

New inside city limit rates for water/sewer are $7 per $1,000 gallons compared to the previous $5.62 per 1,000 gallons. New outside water/sewer rates are $8.37 per 1,000 gallons compared to the previous $6.99 per 1,000 gallons. The new rates also include a $20 base rate for water and a $20 base rate for sewer for inside city limit customers and a $37.30 base rate for outside city limit customers.

City commissioners also in January approved future rate increases that will begin in January 2017 and January 2018 as well as at its February meeting approving future commercial sewer rate increases.

In 2017, the system maintenance fee will increase to $22.50 and the price per gallon of water used will increase to $8.25 per 1,000 gallons for inside customers and $9.62 per 1,000 gallons for outside customers. In 2018 the system maintenance fee will increase to $27.50 for all customers with inside city limit rates increasing to $9.25 per 1,000 gallons and outside city limit rates increasing to $10.62 per 1,000 gallons.

In January 2017 commercial sewer rates will increase to $11.06 per 1,000 gallons and the rate in January 2018 will increase to $12.06 per 1,000 gallons.