The city of Conway has scheduled residents’ sewer rates to rise about 94 percent above current fees, once a three-phased rate increase is completed in January 2014.
Richie Arnold, CEO of Conway Corp., Conway’s provider of city-owned utilities, said the increase would finance the city’s largest wastewater capital project to date, a roughly $95 million new treatment facility, and also fund upgrades at the city’s existing Tucker Creek wastewater plant.
The first phase of the progressive rate increase begins June 1, with a 20 percent bump. The second 20 percent increase is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2013, and the final fee boost of the series, a 35 percent increase, is planned for Jan. 1, 2014.
The new treatment plant will be financed over 25 years, Arnold said, and incremental rate increases suit the city’s financial needs.
“It’s easier on the ratepayers and it better matches our actual cash flow,” Arnold said.
Conway’s average residential customer uses about 5,000 gallons of water per month, he said.
The new plant will be constructed at the southwest edge of Conway and will accommodate 24 million gallons of wastewater per day, doubling the city’s 12 million-gallon processing capability.
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