MAWSS Rate Hike Headed Your Way

When you're busy making ends meet, a water rate increase can take you by surprise.

“That is not cool,” says Customer Kelly Hughes. Most people we talked to say their bills are high enough.

“In all honesty you're stretching it now, you're scared to use the water as it is because the sewer and all the taxes that are attached to it,” says customer Marydean Wilber. While most of the people we spoke with say they're not happy having to pay more for their water MAWSS officials say they're also being stretched thin.

“No matter which way we look costs have gone up, and no matter which way we look, expectations for our service are up,” says MAWSS Director Malcolm Steeves. He says everybody would get an additional $4 tacked on to their bill plus an increase based on how much water you use. The average household uses 5000 gallons a month. That would come out to an extra 10 dollars. Most of the people at Thursday's public hearing were MAWSS retirees--customers find it hard to get to a meeting in the middle of the workday.

“I don't think that's fair because most people are working,” says Kelly Hughes. The budget still needs to be approved for the rate hike to take affect. Changes won't hit your bill until February next year. There are still a few public hearings to attend if you want to make your opinion known. All subsequent meetings will be held at MAWSS’ Dennis Moore Training Center at 210 Cox Street in Mobile:

Board Meeting—Monday, December 1st at 1:15 pm
Public Hearing—Thursday, December 11th at 6 pm
Board Meeting—Monday, December 15th at 1:15 pm

If you can’t attend any of these meetings you can send your comments in writing to this address:

Sally Berry
Comptroller
Mobile Area Water and Sewer System
PO Box 2368
Mobile, AL 36652-2368

You can check out a breakdown of the new rates here. You can also contact MAWSS through their website here.