City of Royston to Raise Water, Sewer Rates

The Royston City Council has voted to raise water and sewer rates in an effort to help cover the cost of much-needed sewer treatment plant repairs and upgrades.

The City is preparing for future growth and needs to be able to provide 1 million gallons of water a day to its citizens, according to City Manager Sharleen Ayers.

City fathers recently heard presentations from two engineering firms, Peoples & Quigley, Inc. and the Georgia Rural Water Association regarding possible ways to structure the water fee increase.

After some discussion at their meeting Tuesday evening it was determined the fee increase suggested by People’s & Quigley would not cover the cost of upgrading the City’s sewer system.

Ultimately, the Council voted to go with the Georgia Rural Water Association’s recommendations.

Mayor Keith Turman noted raising water rates was not an easy decision but a necessary one if the City is to continue to keep up with future growth.

“Anytime there’s a rate increase on anything that we do here as the governing body, we try to do it with due diligence and looking at every cost,” said Mayor Turman. “And I know sometimes citizens complain, ‘you’re going up on my water, you’re going up on my gas.’ Well, I’m here to tell you that none of us as city officials are exempt from paying those. We still have to pay those same rates that we’re proposing on everybody else.”

City Manager Sharleen Ayers said the new rates will increase each year with the Consumer Price Index going forward.

Ayers said the representative from Georgia Rural Water advocated for this type of rate schedule as it will be in line with the States efforts for water conservation.

Under the new water fee structure, the average monthly usage of 3,300 gallons would result in the customer paying $33.18 a month.

Royston customers will pay an average fee of $32.42 for 3,300 gallons of sewer usage.

The new fees are expected to go into effect with the March billing cycle.