Water Department Memo on Mount Vernon’s Water Rates and Billing

I am writing this to reiterate the facts and hopefully clear up any misinformation regarding the City of Mount Vernon’s water rates and billing.

Until this summer, the Mount Vernon Water Department (MVWD) had not raised rates since 2015. A rate increase was necessitated for two reasons: in anticipation of a rate hike from New York City, the source of where Mount Vernon buys its water, and to cover the cost of investing in new equipment to meet federal clean water standards, particularly as they relate to the city’s sewer and stormwater infrastructure. These are costs we must bear in light of the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against the city.

The new rates went into effect in July, rising from $3.30 per 100 cu/ft. to $3.75 per 100 cu/ft. This equates into an increase of about 13 percent or 45 cents for every 748 gallons or a fraction of a penny per gallon.

People have asked how is MVWD able to anticipate a rate hike by New York City. As the Water Superintendent, I receive notifications prior to them being made public. This allows us to alert our customers an increase is coming.

Customers were notified of the coming increase in their water bills going back to April. In addition, news of the increase appeared in Sunday newspapers for eight weeks between May and June.

People also ask if the increase is only pennies a day, how come my bill is so high? There may be a couple of reasons.

The first is better technology. New York City recently installed new meters, which monitor usage more accurately. Likewise, Mount Vernon is also installing new meters. Due to increased accuracy, many residents have seen their costs go up as actual usage, as opposed to estimated, is now reflected in their bills.

Also, in keeping with our mandate to keep our drinking water potable, clean and constant, MVWD must deal with rising operating costs, which have increased since the passing of the “Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act” of 2014. This includes higher expenses for transmission maintenance and installing lead-free fittings.

Customers who are behind on their bills are charged interest on late payments. Late payments can get very expensive. If there is a problem, the MVWD has an exceptional staff equipped to work with you on any situation.

To keep people informed about various water-related issues and fulfill our obligation to notify the public, the Water Department has invested in low-cost monitors that have been placed around City Hall, the Armory, and the Doles Center. In addition, MVWD gets its message to the public through participation in various city functions, where our staff is on-hand during the weekend and evenings to answer any questions you may have If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 914–668–4192, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. MVWD is here to ensure your drinking water is clean and constant every day.

Thank you.

John Arena

Water Superintendent

City of Mount Vernon