Bound for a State Corporation Commission hearing in Richmond, a busload of 36 Lake Land’Or and Bridlewood residents loaded up early Wednesday morning, Feb. 25, to dispute Aqua Virginia’s request to dramatically increase water and sewer bills.
Water bills have skyrocketed in Lake Land’Or, Bridlewood and Campbell’s Creek since Aqua Virginia bought our water company. If Aqua Virginia were to receive their requested rate increase, along with past increases since 2007, our sewer bills would have risen 426 percent and our water bills 81 percent.
Many of our bus riders signed up to speak before the commission, telling of poor water quality, huge bills and poor customer service. Families are taking their wash to the laundry because it's cheaper than washing at home. Many families are only flushing when absolutely necessary and are saving dish and bath water to help flush.
Many are afraid to drink the water because of discoloration. The SCC staff, after scrutinizing Aqua Virginia’s profits, came up with four alternative rates, based on 4,000 gallon consumption. We felt we could live with these and they would not induce “rate shock” as Lake Land’Or lawyers Brian Green and Katherine Hart phrased it.
It will be a number of months before the SCC will make a final ruling. If in our favor, we should see some refunds and a more manageable cost for 4,000 gallons or less per month.
Bonnie Kilgore-Leiss is a member of the Lake Land'Or Water Committee.