Sewage rate hike concerns Lowell-based septic service

Rate increases on utilities are fairly common, but the latest wastewater rate hike has left one Lowell-based business concerned about treading water.

Tracey Gonzalez of Bruce Septic & Repair addressed the Lowell Town Council on behalf of the 75-year-old local business regarding the new sewage rates, which are set to go into effect on April 21.

Gonzalez said the rate increase for Bruce Septic is slated to go from $0.053 per gallon to $0.191 per gallon, an approximate 260% rate increase. She said the average cost to pump out a septic tank ranges from $250 to $350, and Bruce charges an average of $300 per tank for their services.

Gonzalez said what used to cost $53.24 to dump will cost $191 to dump with the new rates. She said that will leave the longtime Lowell business with a total of $109 per job to pay for equipment, salaries and overhead.

“We’re just a small, family-owned business,” Gonzalez said. “Our business cannot sustain at that margin.”