March 8, 2010 
(Click date for a printable copy of letter)
 
Dear East Goshen Township Sewer System Customers: 

On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I am pleased to report that the Township will implement a new sewer metered billing program starting with the April 2010 sewer bill.  

Under the current sewer billing program, the sewer bills have been based on the average number of gallons of water used per quarter by each of the three types of residential customers: single-family, multi-family, and apartment.  One of the inequities of the current sewer billing program is that the customers who use less than the average amount of water may subsidize customers who use more than the average.  

The new sewer metered billing program bills will be based on the actual amount of water used by each customer. The Board believes this approach is fair and that it will be more equitable for all customers and will encourage everyone to conserve water, one of our most valuable resources.  

The new sewer bill will be comprised of two parts – a Fixed Rate and a Variable Rate.   

The Fixed Rate will be based on the fixed costs to operate the sewer system which include administrative costs, fixed contracted costs and meter operation costs.  The Fixed Rate per quarter for the rest of 2010 and the 1^st quarter of 2011 will be $23.53 for every customer of the sewer system, regardless of the amount of water used by the individual customer.  

The Variable Rate will be based on the actual amount of water used by each customer as documented by AQUA PA who will provide the water meter information to the Township.  The Variable Rate will cover such costs as electric, chemicals and maintenance and repair of the sewer lines and Plant – costs that will vary based on the quantity of sewage processed by the Plant.
The Variable Rate for the rest of 2010 and the 1^st quarter of 2011 will be $0.711 per 100 gallons of water used.  

The Variable Rate for each type of residential customer will be based on the individual customer’s average water usage for the 4^th quarter of 2009 and 1^st quarter of 2010. This approach will minimize the impact from the water usage increases which typically occur in the spring and summer from topping off swimming pools, operating irrigation systems and gardening and result in the use of additional water which does not enter the sewer system.   

The Variable Rate for single family customers with wells will be based on the average of the 4^th quarter of 2009 and 1^st quarter of 2010 water usage for all single-family customers in the Township and will be recomputed annually in April. 

A copy of a “Sewer Metered Billing Questions and Answers” sheet has been enclosed for your use and convenience.  Please do not hesitate to call the Township at 610-692-7171 as the Staff is prepared to answer any additional questions you may have regarding the new sewer metered billing program. 

Very truly yours,   

Senya D. Isayeff
Chairman