WSSC proposes another rate increase

Montgomery and Prince George’s county residents may see their water bills increase as much as 9.2 percent — nearly $6 a month for the average ratepayer — starting July 1. Members of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, the water and sewer agency for the two counties, told a Montgomery County Council committee Monday it needs to increase rates by at least 9.2 percent to maintain its pipes and keep the agency’s debt under control.

If the WSSC increases rates by that amount, the agency estimates it would close an expected $46.2 million budget gap. The vast majority of that — $26.8 million — would help offset WSSC’s debt.