Many township residents are wondering what last week’s proposed 8.4-percent rate cut for Orion’s water from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department will mean for them.
The proposed 2008-09 rates would drop Orion’s price from $19.64 per 1,000 cubic feet to $18.
‘It’s going to have a positive effect on our water rates,? said Orion Township Department of Public Works Director Bill Ireland.
Ireland did not want to speculate on any rate for Orion customers, which includes the Village of Lake Orion and the General Motors-Orion Plant, but said it’s safe to say their won’t be any increase.
‘One reason why our rates went down is that we tried to get a real handle on peak-hour usage,? Ireland said, adding that programs like odd/even watering have certainly helped.
He added that thanks should be given to all of the township customers for their participation and cooperation.
Ireland said the township’s rates are still high and that he would like them to be even lower, but acknowledged that they have a lot working against them.
The DWSD calculates rates based on distance from the water sites and the elevation where the water is being piped in, among other things.
Last year, according to Ireland, the rates increased by 7.8-percent, but that increase was not passed along to the township customers.
One reason for the drop this year is the GM plant filling their tanks at night, in a non-peak situation ? a process that started in recent years.
Ireland said that because of the cooperation with GM, the automaker’s rates go down too.
‘It’s a win-win situation,? he said.
The Board of Water Commissioners and the Detroit City Council must still approve the proposed rates for all communities on the Detroit system. It should be finalized sometime in the spring.
‘We’ll keep an eye on the final rates,? Ireland said. ‘Right now I’m happy with the results.?