 Effective January 1, 2008 the Elmira Water Board will discontinue the municipal rate from its established rate schedule. All current municipal rate customer accounts will be reviewed and identified on an aggregate relationship basis; then, according to their water usage, placed in the proper customer rate classification of industrial/institutional or residential/commercial. The Elmira Water Board is notifying Residential/Commercial customers that effective February 19, 2007, water rates will be increased $0.19 (19 cents) per unit. In addition, the Elmira Water Board is notifying Industrial/Institutional customers that effective January 28, 2007 water rates will be increased $0.07 (7 cents) per unit. Presently, the average annual water charge is $253 for residential customers (this purchases approximately 51,000 gallons of water). Depending on the customer’s water usage, this rate adjustment will increase the average annual residential cost by $13.00 or $0.04 (4 cents) per day. These funds will be used to continue the replacement/rehabilitation of the distribution system’s infrastructure, maintain debt service funding, and cover increased operating costs. Our system consists of about 215 miles of transmission and distribution mains. Approximately 120 miles of these mains are old and deteriorated. Elmira Water Board’s long range goal is to replace/rehabilitate about 5 miles of mains per year. Assuring sufficient debt service funding for the 1992 - 1996 System Wide Improvement Program (which provided for the construction of a new filter plant, pumping station, and dam, as well as other facility upgrades), is essential to our financial health. Efforts are made continually to reduce overhead costs and streamline operations. Since 1997 the Elmira Water Board has reduced its work force by 21%. The Elmira Water Board last increased water rates in February 2004. When below-freezing temperatures are sustained over a few days, water pipes and meters that are close to cold air may freeze. This can stop water service and may be expensive to repair or replace. Property owners are responsible for protecting pipes and the meter from damage. At the Elmira Water Board, the cost to replace a 1” or less frozen meter is $150; meters over 1” are on a time and materials basis. It is an expense that can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions. If you are going away for the winter, turn off the water from inside your house and drain the pipes from the outside faucets; it is a good idea to turn off the line to your washing machine also. If you are here for the duration, when the weather dictates:
USE YOUR WATER SUPPLY FREQUENTLY   When outside temperatures remain below freezing, it’s less expensive to run your faucet regularly than for you to repair a frozen or burst pipe
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