Hannibal BPW Water Rate Increase Hearing Today

A Public Hearing on another round of water rate increases for Hannibal customers is scheduled today, December 17 at 5 p.m.  The meeting will be held in the conference room of the Board of Public Works offices on Industrial Loop Drive. An increase of approximately 7.5% in water rates is expected. The increase, if approved would take effect January 1, 2019.  The regularly scheduled board meeting will be held immediately following the public hearing.

Over 5 years, the cost of service study estimates a 54% increase in water revenue will be needed to help fund the removal of chloramines from the water supply.  The average residential customer's water bill is projected to increase $19 to $51 a month by 2023.

Currently the Hannibal BPW is taking sealed bids for construction of a granulated activated carbon facility to replace the current water disinfection system. The project was necessitated after voters approved a measure in 2017 mandating removal of ammonia from the water supply. Funding for the project will come from a bond issuance of up to $17.5 million.

Speaking of money, the redesign of the BPW website and the logo is reported to have cost over $15,000, according to the Hannibal Courier Post. The revised logo replaces the round lightning bolt and water droplet logo with a simpler rectangular design incorporating the utility’s initials “HBPW”. The new https://www.hannibalbpw.org/ mobile-friendly website features easier access to information such as outage reports.