Written by Carol P. Bartold

Oct. 1, 2014: Bronxville residents, already aware that their quarterly bills from United Water New Rochelle have risen significantly over the past few years, stand to incur even higher water bills if the New York Public Service Commission approves a proposed rate hike brought before the commission over the summer.

United Water New Rochelle, owned by the French conglomerate Suez Environnement, supplies approximately 146,000 residents in southern Westchester County with water; United Water Westchester Inc., also owned by Suez Environnement, supplies about 54,000 residents in southern Westchester. The company has put forward a plan to merge the two United Water entities in an effort to reduce administrative costs.

Customers served by United Water New Rochelle would see a 14 percent increase in water bills in the first year, with a 1.5 percent increase and a 2.7 percent increase in the second and third years, respectively. Among the communities served by United Water New Rochelle are Bronxville and the closest surrounding communities of Eastchester, Tuckahoe, New Rochelle, Pelham, and Pelham Manor. Customers of United Water Westchester Inc. would see a first-year rate increase of only 1.4 percent, with 3.4 percent and 3.3 percent rate hikes in the second and third years, respectively. According to United Water, the disparity in rate hikes arises because United Water New Rochelle has more infrastructure to support than United Water Westchester Inc.

Mayor Mary Marvin has publicly opposed United Water's proposed rate hike, as has State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. Marvin described the increase as "exorbitant and not grounded in current economic reality." Paulin, in a recent statement, said that the increases are unreasonable in an economic climate of approximately 2 percent inflation with wages and salaries increasing at a similar, often slower, rate.

Bronxville resident Peter Hartman, who has lived in his house since 1968, remarked that he has seen his water bills double over the past 10 to 20 years. "About three or four years ago it skyrocketed," he said. "I never had a bill over $100 and in September of 2012 my quarterly bill was $273."

Hartman takes issue with the fact that a de facto public utility was sold to a French company. "It just strikes me as wrong," he stated. "I don't understand how our government can possibly let utilities be controlled by someone outside the country. We shouldn't let control of utilities outside this country."

Hartman went on to say that, in the wake of repairs needed on aging pipes, he doesn't find United Water to be a very efficient utility. "When they dig up streets, they don't seem to close it very well. They forget about the homeowner."

Dr. Mary Giuffra, also a Bronxville resident, along with a few of her neighbors, experienced firsthand the effects of aging water pipes from the street to their properties. When the rolled lead pipes carrying water from the main in the street to their properties began to leak at the points where the pipes had been welded, she and her neighbors suffered the loss of water, which leaked and flowed down their hillside street.

Giuffra stated that, although she had insurance offered through United Water to cover just such an event, waiting for the insurance company to approve the job proved stressful. "We were very concerned," she said. "The leaks happened about the time when we were worried about mosquitos. We'd still be waiting for repairs if I hadn't said I was going to call the environmental and health departments."

After plumbers that had been approved by the insurance company were not available to perform the repairs in a timely manner, Giuffra said, she insisted on hiring her own plumber and paying the difference between that bill and the amount covered by the insurance policy.

"Negotiating the system was the problem," Giuffra said, "but ultimately United Water helped." She noted, however, that more residents with aging pipes can expect to have the same problem.

Pictured here: United Water truck on Midland Avenue.

Photo by A. Warner