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1. How does Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority determine our service rates?

Determining rates is an annual step-by-step process conducted by BJWSA staff, working with an outside rate consultant and the Board of Directors' Finance Committee. BJWSA's budget and rates are reviewed, evaluated, and approved initially by the Finance Committee and finally by the full Board of Directors. The goals of the rate-making process are to ensure that rates are fair and equitable and generate enough funds to reliably operate and maintain the water and wastewater systems. In addition, rates are designed to promote water conservation. Learn more about Determining Rates (PDF).

2. What affects Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority rates?

BJWSA is investing carefully today in technology, training and equipment, so that the superior quality of drinking water and wastewater treatment systems will hold down future costs. However, certain characteristics of the BJWSA system and our low country community impact our water and sewer rates: BJWSA is a non-profit, non-taxing, public utility that depends solely on the money received from customer payments, capacity fees, connection fees and wholesale services for providing water and wastewater services.

We have been a rapidly growing community, rather than a stable population. To meet this growth, BJWSA has built major facilities in the last twelve years, requiring new debt to be repaid. Community growth also has meant road widening and bridge building, which has resulted in the costly moving of pipelines by BJWSA.