By Sara Jerome,

@sarmje

Water bills are about to go up for Louisiana water ratepayers — every single one.

“Changes the Louisiana Legislature made this year will increase the annual Safe Drinking Water Fee from $3.20 to $12 per year, per meter, starting Jan. 1, 2017. The fee will be collected quarterly and sent to the Department of Health and Hospitals to fund tests for contaminants in public water drinking supplies,” The Times-Picayune reported.

“The changes mean residents who are billed monthly will see a $1 fee on each bill starting in January. Bi-monthly customers will see a $2 fee starting February. Revenue from the fee will also pay for up to 40 additional sanitarian positions within the health department. Officials will also use $500,000 of the new money to offset the annual costs of the Louisiana Rural Water Association,” it continued.

The charge is a flat rate fee, not based on water consumption, according to the report. Under a new law, community water providers can keep five percent per meter for the cost of collection, the report said.

“The federal Safe Drinking Water Act was passed in 1974 and allowed the federal Environmental Protection Agency to set standards for drinking water quality and oversee states, localities and suppliers who implement those standards,” Houma Today reported.

Amanda Laughlin, chief engineer with the State Department, explained the benefit of the new fee.

"With the increase of the [Safe Drinking Water] fee, additional services will be provided to water systems at no additional costs. Beginning Jan. 1, the Safe Drinking Water Program will reinstate the bacteriological sample collection program for all public water systems statewide," she said, per the report.

A report by the American Society of Civil Engineers noted Louisiana’s drinking water infrastructure challenges, giving the state a “C-” in this arena.

“Although Louisiana has an abundance of water for its domestic, industrial and agricultural needs, over-pumping and salt water intrusion are depleting groundwater supplies. The aging and deteriorating water supply and treatment and distribution systems are not capable of providing potable water for future, and in some cases, current demands. Better planning and more funding are key elements to providing Louisiana with a safe supply of drinking water in the future,” the report said.

For similar stories visit Water Online’s Funding Solutions Center.