1. Why are you raising sewer rates and where is the money going?

2. What would be the impact on Greater Cleveland if you didn't increase sewer rates?

3. How are our citizens and communities benefiting from this increase?

4. What have you done to keep costs down?

5. What are the most important things that citizens and communities should know about the increase?

6. Do you offer any rate saving programs?

7. What are you doing to advocate for state and federal clean water funding?

1. Why are you raising sewer rates and where is the money going?

There are three major issues driving the rate increase:

• Anticipated federally mandated program to reduce untreated water from entering our waterways ($174.7 million)
• Core system asset repair and replacement costs, including much-needed updates to our treatment plants ($405.5 million)
• Increase in operations and maintenance costs but a 40% decrease in billing base [Back to top]

2. What would be the impact on Greater Cleveland if you didn't increase sewer rates?

Failure to maintain our facilities and pipes would cause them to deteriorate, jeopardizing the clean water gains made over the past 30 years. [Back to top]

3. How are our citizens and communities benefiting from this increase?

We will be able to continue to provide clean water to:

• protect public health
• protect the environment
• promote economic development [Back to top]

4. What have you done to keep costs down?

• Saved an estimated $118 million from use of Federal Low Interest Loan Program vs. other funding sources
• Saved approximately $4 million refinancing 1995 bond issue in 2005
• Employees contributed $3 million to health care costs since 1996
• Received $646.1 million in Federal Construction Grants since 1972 [Back to top]