Ridgewood Village Council authorizes another water rate increase
June 15,2912
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewod NJ, Ridgewood’s Village Council on Wednesday authorized a 2 percent rate increase for Ridgewood Water customers, boosting the total hike for this year to 5 percent. Ridgewood Water will now bill its customers in the Village of Ridgewood , Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff at a rate of $4.42 per 1,000 gallons ,up from the $4.33 per 1,000 gallons assessed since January 2012.
Village Manager Ken Gabbert. told the Ridgewood News that the new rate will go into effect “as rapidly as the billing company can process, anticipate within two weeks,”
Ridgewood officials continue maintain that the village utility’s rates are comparable and even cheaper than charges assessed by other water companies. According to Gabbert only Park Ridge and Hawthorne charge its customers at a rate less than Ridgewood and that operations in those towns are far smaller than Ridgewood’s distribution.
Ramsey Water Company charges a far higher rate for borough residents at $4.95 per 1,000 gallons for consumption more than 6,000 gallons. Ramsey Water provides service to Allendale, Mahwah and Upper Saddle River, charging residents in those towns $5.45 per 1,000 gallons for any use exceeding 6,000 gallons. United Water Resources , one of the largest water service providers in the country, charges its customers $5.30 per 1,000 gallons, according to the comparison chart provided by village officials.
According to Councilman Paul Aronsoh ,”Despite the increase, Ridgewood Water rates remain among the lowest in the state,” Resident of the Village do not feel so blessed , with skepticism over water quality growing and regular summer water restrictions reminding many of living in a third world country.One would wonder who long the Village will continue to play this charade trying to maintain a water utility it is ill equipped to run and unable to make the proper investments in ,the time seems long past for the Village to get out of the water business.
In the last three years, Ridgewood Water has raised its rates to its customers a shocking total of 31 percent. The increases between 2009 and 2011 are now the focus of the class-action lawsuit filed last year by Hackensack-based attorney Joseph Fiorenzo on behalf of Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff residents.
…and so the increase just keep going up and up. Maybe we should all be a lot greener due to this new water increase. Let’s let Mother Nature take care of our lawns. Just water your newer plants with the rain water you’ve been collecting? What you don’t have rain barrels? You need to get them now due to this increase. If your out of work or can’t afford this increase…like most of us on fixed or lower incomes…maybe we need to use the rain water to take showers outside now? Just get your soap on a rope and take a shower when it rains. Heck, wash that car too while it’s raining and let MN rinse you and your car off. Plant a garden too…Depiero’s is closing and becoming a Wegmans…Yikes, whats next no more leaf and grass pick-up? Taking our garbage to the curbs….a cell tower at Vet’s to cover pensions and healthcare costs??? and so on…Have a nice WE and Happy Fathers Day to ALL! MT