Bear Valley Water Authority may hike rates in January

Bear Valley Joint Authority customers may see an increase in their water rates in January as the authority develops another water source.

[Observer]

What a bunch of bs. We knew that an increase was going to be coming because Bear Valley Authority is so inept at doing anything correctly. No other customers in this area the boro, Greene Township, Guilford, etc. have problems with their water systems like those of us who are served by Bear Valley have.

They can blame whomever they wish to. The bottom line is they have never put the best interests of their customers first...period.

[Dave]

Restrictions started in 04. 4 years later, still have restrictions.

If we make people tap on to a system, then the system should perform or else it should allow people to opt out.

[Dee]

We have been with Bear Valley Water for the past ten years. I remember before the water restriction in 04 we were on a water restritction for about two years prior, but it was blamed on the drought. We already experienced one price increase. There has been no halt with housing construction where I live during these past years either. I live in Hamilton Township.

[just me]

we don't have enough water coming out of the taps now to get wet in the shower. So, light at the end of the tunnel! A secondary water source being developed! What do these geniuses do? Allow more tap-ons! Of course! What a brilliant solution! Now we can pay more, still have restrictions, and still have no water coming out of the taps! Just wonderful...

[Oh please]

Lets see:

Bear Valley Water - Incompentent Board!
Tuscarora School District - Incompentent Board & Mgmt.
St. Thomas Township Supervisors -(2) out of the (3) are a bunch of idiots!

The people around here get what they deserve! Always voting their friends in who know nothing on how to efficently run an operation and end up costing everyone more in the long run.

[Gram]

I have been on this poorly run system for almost 20 years and it is the same old B.S. just as the saying goes "same old stuff, different day!!!! Of course new homes are allowed that is money in the pockets of a lot of those in control of this township.Highest taxes on property & worst run township. Seems like it doesn't matter who runs for an office the same good old boys & girls are still in control. Wish I wasn't a Senior citizen & could somehow afford to move out of this area.
BUT, wishing doesn't not make it happen. Wow let the increases roll!!!!

[Concerned]

I think Bear Valley should re-evaluate their billing system and rates. A family of 5 pays the same monthly rate as a retired couple of even a single homeowner. The water bill should be based upon the gallons of water used in a home. An elderly couple doesn't use near the amount of water they are allotted in a month's time, therefore they should only be paying for the water they use - An elderly couple could wash their vehicle once aweek and still not use the amount of water a family of 4 or 5 use in a months time. And instead of giving the people a break by the large amount of wate they use - make the price the same across the board.
And those farms in St.Thomas and Mercersburg that are using TREATED WATER for their cows should be told to drill wells!! Just imagine, the water that would be available for humans!! A dairy cow drinks alot of water in a days time!!

[bukscinner]

You gotta be kidding me! Bear Valleys customers have to pay because the contractors are late! Are we sure BVW is not owned by Exon or Mobile. Why wouldn't they seek a law suit against the contractors of the engineering idiots. Our water cost has trippled ever since BVW figured out they didn't have enough water. This extra cost should also be tied into new connnections. What a bunch of BULL!

[Patriot]

Gasoline, electric, propane, school tax, township tax, food, phone, Comcast (they are the only ones that lower service and raise rates at the same time-that wouldn't be because they are a monopoly would it?) and water (will they lower the pressure some more with the rate increase?)
All of the above budget items increase in price without limit, some evreryday (especially gas, food, and heat). Taxes increase when they should be decreasing.
When a vast number of people are forced out of their homes (the signs go up everyday in my area) all of the fees will still have to be paid by those left behind, and at a higher rate because of less payers.
When you have ever done a project at work or home, you had to know where the funds are coming from to pay for it. Government and utilities don't worry about that. They do as they please knowing full well that there bills will be paid or the customer can just get out! Elected officials are supposed to guard against these actions. Instead they just explain after the fact why it was unavoidable. Elect some new reps, it can't get any worse.

[Sam]

Well now look at who is on this board. Someone took the worst examples of citizens who only care about their own interests and put them in the same place and ask them to run something and this is what you get. Whatever happened to the controversy about the board member buying all the available taps in advance, for their own business and regular folks couldn't get any? Lots of shady stuff in this area gets swept under the rug.

And this is what happens when you have the top 1% of wage earners running things, they have no idea what trouble the common man is having in these economic times, so why wouldn't they raise rates?

[persnickity]

Gas = up.
Food = up.
Health care costs = way up.
School taxes = up.
Teacher salaries = up 9a nice 4.5% per year too).
Salaries and pay = about the same as 2 years ago.
Sewer rates = up (although most didn't notice that).

And now Bear Valley water rates = up.
(And they still need 2 months to fix a leaking pipe in Laurich Estates).

Good luck to the School Board on getting a YES on that high school renovation project vote!!

Wrong project - wrong year!

LOL

[Ret-Fed]

Concerned wrote:

I think Bear Valley should re-evaluate their billing system and rates. A family of 5 pays the same monthly rate as a retired couple of even a single homeowner. The water bill should be based upon the gallons of water used in a home....

Did you check your bill lately ? Once you exceed the minimum number of gallons you DO pay for any water in excess of the base rate.

[O Well]

What water restriction? I have not restricted my use of the water I PAY for. I still wash my car water my plants and fill the pool. BVW is a big jokethey raise your rate then tell you to conserve water HA HA HA!!!!

[Oh please]

And this whole issue with taking the water from the quarry area is only because of the influence of you know who. It will cost each and every water customer more money because they are hell bent on putting a pumping station there.

Its only the help out Tony Depaul because the operation is a money losing business right now.

[ST THOMAS]

More money and we still have to put up with the taste of chorine and the chorine odors that comes out of the facets. There is no regulation for chorine in our drinking water they can dump as much in as they want to. Do a chorine test and see what your're really drinking. During the hot weather is when you will see the rise in chorine in your water.
Have you notice all these truckers hauling bottle Spring Water in our area to SO MANY homes now that are also hooked up to BVW. That is because chorine is cancer causing to drink, most other states have regulations on the amount of chorine they can put into our water but Pa. does not.

[ickerus]

O Well wrote:

What water restriction? I have not restricted my use of the water I PAY for. I still wash my car water my plants and fill the pool. BVW is a big jokethey raise your rate then tell you to conserve water HA HA HA!!!!

I feel the same way to but have remained calm.
I have a swimming pool I can't fill or top, I have cars I can't wash, my concrete has turned black, BVW wants more money to fix what should have been fixed a long time ago. First it's a water shortage. Then it's we can't process the water fast enough to get it to the customers. Then its more upgrades. Sorry customers. Solution: Build more houses!

It's bad enough that St. Thomas township is taxed to death with school taxes.(I don't have any kids). Everyone wants raises and more money sewer included. There is too much month left over at the end of the money! If you are lucky enough to be able to sell a house serviced by BVW, you might want to tell the buyers to BYOW (Bring Your Own Water)

Imagine if BVW had to service 40,000 customers!!

If we can sell more water, we can make money but we have to keep the restrictions on. How can you make money like that? Pitiful, Pitiful, Pitiful. Go borrow some more money to fix what should have been fixed, pass the cost on to the customer, tell them they can't have more water, blow the money elsewhere, file for another rate hike. It's a carniverous cycle.

JERKS! I'm using water!

[Eileen]

I will never complain about Guilford Water after hearing these stories. Actually, we have great pressure coming out of our facets, water always tastes good, and there are not any restrictions. I love my water! I wouldn`t move to St. Thomas if someone paid me.

[Carol1]

Gees, In January? Well, there goes the Social Security increase, Medicare will go up and take most, then rent, now the water. Lets see we are sharing rides, guess this means they want us old f--ts to share showers now. The Golden Years just get crappiery, don't tell me I mis spelled crappiery, I don't care.

[Stuck in St Thomas]

Hi FOlks, Here we go again!! Can you believe this B.S.??!!!! What is it going to take for us to get our water back?? This is about the dumbest thing I've heard in a long time! Add houses, stay on restrictions, and raise the rates!! BVW needs to give up it's water to C-birg, since thats where we get it from anyway!
By the way watch out for the WATER PLOICE they are coming tro get you!!

[Apple Way Matthew]

Boy, I am ever glad I have a well with clean water!