Jackson Utility District Increasing Rates As Providers Raise Prices

Increased water rates now in effect as the new year begins for the Jackson County Utility District.

Residential water bills will now be a minimum of 23.95 a month for 800 gallons and $15.10 for anything over 1,000 gallons. Commercial prices range from $24.95 to $36.95 minimum with the same charge as residential for anything over 1,000 gallons. General Manager Brandon Holland cited increase costs from where the county purchases their water as the main factor in the rate change.

“We hate to increase our prices, but we have no control over that,” Holland said. “When you purchase all the water that we get, we do not make any water. We don’t have a water plant. We’re distribution only, and like I say, we’re forced to just pass the price along when the increase comes to us.”

Holland said the county purchases their water from Putnam, Overton, Gainesboro and Red Boiling Springs. He said the rate increase was also a necessity because of some upcoming regulations.

“I think the main reason our lead and copper regulations are changing is because of the incident a few years back with Flint, Michigan,” Holland said. “That took and lit a fire under anything that has to do with lead and copper. It’s for a public concern and keeping everybody with safe water.”

Holland said between now and October, his department will have to contact every customer and inspect their plumbing and see what type of pipes they have and report back to the EPA.

Holland said the increased costs had to be balanced somehow for the state to approve their 2024 budget.

“We take and figure a cost of increase on parts, increase on water purchased and come up with a final budget for comptrollers to look at and approve at the end of the year,” Holland said. “It has to be in the black, we can’t be running in the red or anything.”

Holland said another small concern is water shortage. He said the county only had 51 inches of rain this year and normally gets around 65 inches. This could cause water levels to be lower in spring and summer. He said this could have an impact on the water available to some areas of the county.