Catlin and Berger look to take seats on the CFPUA board

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Providing clean water to New Hanover County residents is the sole purpose of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority. While there’s been many accomplishments residents say the service is coming at too high a cost and they fear more rate hikes.

CFPUA held it’s annual meeting Wednesday night in downtown Wilmington reviweing what they’ve done over the past year.

It’s hard to make ends meet for senior citizens, families on fixed incomes or any New Hanover County resident feeling the strain of the economy. The last thing anyone needs is an expensive water bill.

“I’m not happy with my bill,” said New Hanover Co. Commissioner-elect Rick Catlin. All my azaleas are dead because I can’t afford to water them anymore.”

Rick Catlin and Brian Berger have yet to assume their positions as New Hanover County commissioners but are already getting to work. The two are looking to get positions on the CFPUA’s board in hopes of making some changes.

“We’ve got to find a way of balancing the need to provide clean water and sanitation to everybody and the ability to pay for it and I don’t think we’ve set it up right,” said Catlin.

Chad O’Shields lives in New Hanover County and said, “We do conserve water and that’s the problem with the rate structures. The families that conserve water still get stuck paying two, three tier rates.”

O’Shields say his family actively conserves water but falls into a CFPUA rate tier that makes him end up paying for more than he uses.

“Hopefully new blood will change the rate tier structure and make it fair to all citizens and maybe a change in Raleigh as well will result in general statute changes that will force the board to change the rate structure,” said O’Shields.

O’Shields wants to see some new faces on the board. He says new faces means fresh ideas and with any luck maybe new rates.

New Hanover Co. Commissioner-elect Brian Berger said, “We simply can’t sustain what’s projected, which is double digit rate increases for the next 10 to 15 years or ever longer.”

The CFPUA plans to hire a consultant to look over their rates.