City of Bloomington Utilities 2022 Sewer and Stormwater Rate Case Approved

The City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) received approval for an updated rate for sewer and stormwater services from the Bloomington Common Council and Utilities Service Board. The new rates will support continued improvements to the wastewater plants as well as accelerated infrastructure replacements. The average CBU customer should expect a monthly increase of less than $6 on their bill.

The rate proposal was approved by the Utilities Service Board in October 2022 and by the Bloomington Common Council in November 2022. The new rates for sewer and stormwater are the first updates in three years. The new Sewer rates will be implemented in two phases, increasing revenue by 12% in 2023, and 6% in 2025. Stormwater revenues will increase 26% in 2023. The new rates will be reflected starting in the February 2023 bills.

Sewer revenues from the 2022 sewer rate case allow CBU to complete the modernization project for the Dillman Road Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). This project includes upgrades to the electrical system and clarifiers with the goal of increasing the treatment capacity of the plant from 15 to 20 million gallons per day. CBU will also rehabilitate the belt press and adding a waste storage building at the Blucher Poole WWTP. Improvements to the sewer collection system will reduce sanitary sewer overflows; projects include sewer pipe rehabilitation, manhole rehabilitation, aging lift station replacement, and large diameter sewer design and installation.

With the new stormwater revenue CBU will complete the final segment of the Hidden River Culvert Project near Indiana Avenue. The stormwater Green infrastructure initiative will continue with the Stormwater Master Plan, Miller Showers Park basins maintenance, construction of area detention ponds, and other City projects. CBU’s Stormwater Utility will also begin to conduct street weeping operations in an effort to reduce the amount of debris entering the stormwater system.

A typical CBU residential customer who is served by a ⅝-inch meter and consumes 3,000 gallons per month will see a $3.86 increase in their monthly sewer bill in 2023. As a specific example, the residential price of a 1,000-gallon “unit” will increase 12% from $10.72 to $12.01 on January 1, 2023. A second 6% increase to $12.73 per unit will be implemented on January 1, 2025. Residential customer impacts will vary with water use and meter size. The stormwater rate is going up from $5.95 to $7.50. These rate changes will not affect charges for drinking water service.

CBU Director Vic Kelson said, “The 2022 Sewer Works and Stormwater Utility rate reviews continue CBU’s improvements for our sewer works customers and will improve stormwater services for all Bloomington residents.”

“The City is committed to investing in our infrastructure to meet the needs of our community today and in the future,” said John Hamilton. “I offer my sincere thanks to the CBU staff for their hard work and commitment to ensuring safe and sustainable water, sewer, and stormwater systems.”

For the full schedule of rates and charges, customers may visit bloomington.in.gov/utilities/rates or stop by the Utilities Service Center at 600 E Miller Dr. More information about the rate case is available at bloomington.in.gov/utilities/rate-case.