East Deer water rates likely to increase

East Deer residents could be facing a water rate increase but to what extent has not been determined.

The township commissioners are expected to discuss the issue March 7, saying they’re up against a wall after Tarentum implemented a 29% increase that is set to start in coming weeks.

East Deer buys its water in bulk from Tarentum and then sells it to residents and businesses.

Effective March 1, costs will climb by $1.30 per 1,000 gallons.

“We haven’t made a final decision,” Commissioner Tony Taliani said. “That’s what we’ll talk about because we have to put it on the agenda for the following week. This was imposed on us, so we need to consider what to do.”

Tarentum Council voted in December to increase water rates after its manager, Dwight Boddorf, said it was necessary to salvage the borough’s aged water distribution system.

According to a state Department of Environmental Protection report, Tarentum’s water system requires about $15 million in work. About 90% of the pipes are 100 years old.

The two municipalities have a contract that dates to the 1970s. It is auto-renewed every 15 years and is not set to expire until 2032.

Tarentum residents also will be paying more, beginning in March. The new rate amounts to an 11% increase for the borough.

East Deer pays Tarentum $4.50 for every 1,000 gallons. It’s nearly as much as the production costs, Boddorf said.

Taliani expressed his concern over the water rate hike, saying it doesn’t allow East Deer to “build any stability.”

He believes the township is being overcharged but said it would “live up to our end of the contract.”

Any potential rate increase will be reflected in water bills that go out in April.

Tarentum Council President Scott Dadowski issued a letter to East Deer officials in January, saying the borough wants to address any concerns with transparency.

East Deer’s water supply is a large portion of Tarentum’s production costs, Dadowski wrote.

“We have been working to establish a more equitable rate structure that accurately reflects the costs incurred in supplying water to your municipality,” he wrote. “We are committed to maintaining a good relationship with your municipality.”