(12/13) At its December meeting, Emmitsburg Town Council approved a water rate, sewer rate, and tap fee study.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said it would be unable to provide additional funding for any of the town’s water infrastructure projects "because our rates cannot sustain the yearly maintenance of what we currently have and would not be able to sustain any future infrastructure projects," Town Manager Cathy Willets said.

From the USDA’s recommendation, town staff researched services in order to perform studies on the town’s water/sewer rate and tap fees.

Although the study was not required, it came highly recommended by USDA in order to establish accurate rates

"What you have to look at is current rates and future rates. Typically, water and sewer rate studies are done every three to five years and Emmitsburg is particularly overdue.

"To the best of my knowledge there has not been a water rate study for 15 years at the very minimum," she said.

Three competitive bids were received, and NewGen Strategies and Solutions of Annapolis was approved for the study in the amount of $35,000. Although not the cheapest option, the company came highly recommended, and their bid package contained details the town was looking for.

Utilized by the City of Frederick Town, Taneytown, and Union Bridge, Willets called NewGen "extremely qualified."

"It’s good to do local here in Maryland," Council Vice President Cliff Sweeney said.

"We currently have a five- or six-tiered system which is kind of difficult at times," Willets said.

"Sewer rates were raised many years back to sustain [pay for] the wastewater treatment plant project with rates that were set in house with no independent study done," she said.

As for the direction of water rates town residents pay, Willets said: "You have to look at current rates, future rates, and future projects for the [proper] water rates."

"The water fund in particular has shown a loss for five years," she said. Although the town currently charges a tap fee for all new homes, which help funds water system maintenance and upgrades, the town would be in trouble if those were to dry up.

As costs for everything continue to rise, the town’s water infrastructure is unable to sustain without the study.

"Everything’s getting more and more expensive, maintenance is expensive, ageing infrastructure is failing, it has got to be done…unfortunately it’s [a rate increase] a necessity to continue to provide the service," Willets said.