WSSC rates increase 9 percent

The increase, which went into effect July 1, will tack about $4.47 per month or $13.41 per quarter to the average residential customer's bill, WSSC says. The county councils in Montgomery and Prince George's approved the increase in May.

The increase comes after the utility says it had a record number of water main breaks and repairs.

WSSC dealt with a total of 1,972 breaks and leaks in Montgomery and Prince George's counties fom July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.

The utility says since 1997, only one fiscal year has been worse. In fiscal 2003, WSSC's system experienced 2,198 breaks and leaks.

In just January 2009, WSSC says 611 breaks and leaks happened, topping the all-time record for one month which had been 601 set in January 2003. WSSC says more than 400 of the problems occurred in a 10-day period starting January 16, 2009, the beginning of Inauguration weekend.

"Unfortunately, this situation is only going to get worse if we don't address our aging infrastructure. Our public health, safety, economy and quality of life are all at stake," says Teresa D. Daniell, WSSC interim general manager.

While aging infrastructure is blamed for many of the breaks, a study of the huge water main break on River Road in December pointed to installation as a problem.

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