County sewer rates could increase

Sewer rates for those served by Douglas County’s utility could increase on July 1, according to a rate study presented to county commissioners.

Douglas County’s North Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant serves homes in Johnson Lane and along the foothills south to Genoa.

Rate consultant FCS Group performed a financial analysis of the sewer utility rates, which revealed at their current level they won’t meet future revenue requirements.

The county’s sewer service operates as an enterprise fund, in which costs are met by users.

Forecast rates are expected to start falling behind cash operating expenses in fiscal year 2031.

According to a Dec. 21 presentation, the county hasn’t increased sewer rates since 2019, and has $5.37 million in capital projects to fund over the next four years.

The largest of those projects are the replacement of an influent lift station for $2.1 million and a lift station rehabilitation and replacement for $4.4 million.

The plant is already dipping into reserves to cover debt service, according to the study.

Monthly rates for sewer are now $72.08 but are expected to rise to $86.01 a month by July 1, 2029.

The regular rate is expected to increase by 5 percent next year and then 4 percent, before dropping to 3 percent for three years.

Typically, Nevada sewer and water utilities pay to maintain and operate infrastructure from user fees and expand using connection fees.

The current cost to connect to the North Valley plant is $6,020 per equivalent dwelling unit.

Should county commissioners decide to implement the rate study, that connection fee would go up to $9,960.