MEMPHIS, Tenn. — This month, residents in Millington noticed a change in their water bills. They went up.
Some reached out to our Nextdoor Reporter Brittani Moncrease to find out why. Brittani has that answer for you.
This week, I received a message from a Millington neighbor on Nextdoor concerned about the increase in her water bill. A few days later, I got another message and was sent a thread about it. So, we’re getting to the bottom of why.
Change is coming to the City of Millington, starting with the water plant.
Neighbors on Nextdoor have noticed a spike in their water bills and they want to know why.
“Our plant was built in the 1950s. It’s been around a long time,” said John Trusty, City of Millington Director of Finance and Administrations.
Trusty said after a study from the University of Tennessee Municipal and Technical Advisory Service, it was decided a new water plant was needed.
The study recommended a rather quick increase in rates, but the city's board said no.
“Instead, they put in an increase that was slower. In 2016, the rate was $10.50 base rate per month. In 2017, it went to $11.85. In 2018, it went to $13.21. In 2019, $14.56 and in 2020, $15.91,” said Trusty. “As you can see, that rate increase has been going into effect over a 4-year period.”
The changes usually take place toward the end of July each year.
“What the residents are seeing today is the last one of those big jumps that were designed to provide funding for the construction of the new water plant,” said Trusty.
Some neighbors say they were told the jump in rates was due to a leak. Others suspected new installations of smart meters.
“A leak could be affecting somebody’s rate and that would be an unusual situation rather than a usual,” said Trusty. “The meters and the installation of the system were already a cost that was evaluated into and that was something we had planned for some time.”
In this case, the increase is all for a new water plant.
Millington residents could see another increase next year, but that will be based on the consumer price index.