No one gets excited about a rate increase. We understand that. When a monthly utility bill goes up, people want a clear answer for why it is happening and what that money is being used for.
The Ben Davis Conservancy District has held its sewer rate flat for four years. In 2027, that changes. The residential monthly rate will move from $40 to $45.
That is an increase of five dollars a month, or sixty dollars over the course of a year.
Why the change?
The short answer is this: the cost of operating and improving the sanitary sewer system has gone up, and the district cannot keep absorbing those costs indefinitely.
The district maintains an aging sewer system that serves the community every day, whether most people think about it or not. Much of this infrastructure is decades old. Keeping it reliable takes regular inspection, maintenance, rehabilitation, and repair.
That work includes things like sewer televising, lining aging pipes, addressing infiltration and inflow issues, making targeted repairs, and maintaining the public system before small problems turn into larger and more expensive ones.
Why not wait longer?
Waiting sounds easy until infrastructure fails. Deferring repairs usually does not make them cheaper. It tends to make them more urgent and more expensive. The district’s goal is to stay ahead of the biggest problems, extend the life of the system, and reduce avoidable costs over time.
In other words, this is not about doing more for the sake of doing more. It is about maintaining a reliable sanitary sewer system and paying for the real cost of that work.
What does the increase support?
- Ongoing operation of the sanitary sewer system
- Preventive maintenance and inspection
- Rehabilitation of older pipes
- Improvements that help protect long-term reliability
Why this matters to customers
Sewer infrastructure is easy to ignore when everything works. But when it fails, it affects homes, streets, neighborhoods, and cost. A modest rate increase now helps the district continue maintaining the system responsibly instead of waiting for more disruptive and costly failures later.
The district’s mission is to provide reliable and affordable sanitary sewer service to the community. Keeping rates flat for four years was a real benefit to customers. Raising the rate in 2027 is not a move anyone makes lightly. It is a practical step to keep the system working and to keep up with the real cost of maintaining it.
If you have questions about your sewer bill or about the 2027 rate, contact the Ben Davis Conservancy District at (317) 241-2941.
