Kingston, TN- Tuesday night during the Kingston water board meeting, there were many concerns about charging water customers outside the city, $125% of their water usage for sewer service. Those who oppose the new fee are not connected to the Sewer Service but as the Water Board stated last night,  they have to charge those even though they do not have sewer service because the line runs in front of their residences. This rule was mandated by the state back in the late 80s. Also, a new revision in 1991 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Tennessee Water Commission established the new rule that has been in place since.

Last month customers on Kingston’s Water Service who live outside the city where sewer lines run in front of their properties were given notice that the new charge would be implemented. Last month’s meeting saw a number of individuals there to express their displeasure with the new mandate and again last night.

Toward the end of the Water Board meeting, board member Tony Brown wanted to hold off on charging those affected for at least 60 days until a work session could be conducted to discuss this further. However, that motion never came to the floor for a vote after discussing it realizing that some of those who would be affected have already hooked up to the Sewer Service and even city residents who live inside the city who are water customers and do not have Sewer Service, have been paying that fee for several years.

After the meeting, nothing was changed and the bills will be coming to those customers who live outside the city now to be charged the new sewer rate fee which is $125% of their water usage bill. Customers at last night’s meeting stated they would seek possible changes through their state leaders and inform them that charging for a service that is not used is unconstitutional. Other utilities across the state follow the same rule that if a sewer line runs in front of your home then you are required to pay the fee whether you are hooked up or not.