WADESBORO — The Town of Wadesboro announced a water and sewer rate increase, due to a revenue shortfall from the Wade Mill Business Closure and higher county wholesale rates.

The Wadesboro Utilities Department announced an increase to its water and sewer rates, which take effect August 30.

This decision is due to several factors, the most significant being the revenue losses stemming from the closure of local businesses, specifically the Wade Mill Manufacturing Company. Additional financial pressures on the utilities department include an Anson County wholesale rate increase and new debt service related to 3.1 million, 2.5-mile force main water project designed to improve system reliability.

As a community focused utility provider, the town of Wadesboro acknowledged the financial challenges many residents and businesses have faced during these unprecedented times. The impact of these three factors, the closure of a major business, the County’s rate increase and costs associated with system reliability improvements have affected Utilities Department ability to maintain critical services and infrastructure without replacement revenue.

Key Reason for the Rate Increase:

Revenue Shortfall: The closure or reduced operation of local businesses has led to a $554,000 or a 20 percent drop in water and sewer revenue. With a large portion of the Utility customer base being commercial, these changes have directly influenced the Utility’s income, making it challenging to fund basic water and sewer operational and maintenance expenses.

County Rate Increase: The town of Wadesboro contracts with the County for the treatment of sewer and the purchase of water. The County increased its wholesale rates for these services by $138,000.00 or 11 percent.

Additional Debt Service Associated with Water System Improvements: The town recently completed a 3.1 million, 2.5-mile force main water project designed to improve system reliability. The town was able to secure a 40-year loan at 2.375 percent to finance a portion of the costs. The annual debt service is $85,000.00 or about 3.5 percent impact on water rates.

Maintaining Service Quality: in order to continue delivering reliable utility services to our customers , we must ensure that our operational and maintenance costs are covered . This rate adjustment will help us sustain the quality of service that our customers expect and deserve.

Investment in Infrastructure: To keep pace with the growing demand on our Utility systems and to ensure safety and efficiency, we must continue investing in the utility infrastructure. This includes upgrades to equipment, technological improvements, and regular maintenance which is critical to providing uninterrupted services.

While the utility strives to keep rates as competitive as possible, the simultaneous challenges presented by theses financial impacts unfortunately requires an increase in water rates of 23.875 percent and sewer rates of 33.43 percent.

We encourage customers to visit the town’s website or contact a customer service representative for further information.

The town of Wadesboro Utilities department appreciates the understanding and support of our community during this challenging period. Together, we can work towards a future where local businesses thrive, and our utility services continue to meet the needs of our residents.

For further information, please contact Wiley L Ross Jr at (704) 694-3576 or wross@wadesboronc.gov.