Arecent article in the Journal of the AWWA stated: “Costs to provide safe drinking water and wastewater treatmentare increasing. Since 1996 water and wastewater rates have increased 4.9% annually, almost twice the rate of

inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Fixed costs related to capital improvements are driving theserate increases. Regulatory compliance and infrastructure renewal are typically the fastest growing pieces of the utilitybudget.” At BCWSA we continually strive to ensure excellent service at an affordable rate. However, the Authority hasalso had to face the need to increase rates to pay for much needed upgrades and repairs.

The following graph demonstrates BCWSA’s Retail Sewer system rates over the past eight years. The black line showsBCWSA’s retail sewer rates; the gray line shows the CPI percentage change; and the blue line shows the percent changein the Philadelphia Water Department’s costs to BCWSA. BCWSA was able to reduce the Retail Sewer Service Fee in1995, which has not been increased since. During this same period the CPI increased almost 40%, and the City ofPhiladelphia increased rates by 90%. In 2008 BCWSA raised rates as a result of the City’s increases. Since that timeBCWSA has able to absorb these increases without having to raise rates. Recently BCWSA announced a 5.05% rateincrease for both retail and wholesale sewer clients due to price increases in fuel, operating costs and materials.

The following retail locations are affected by the increase: Bedminster Twp, Bensalem Twp, Buckingham Twp, Doylestown Borough, Doylestown Twp, Langhorne Borough,Middletown Twp, New Britain Borough, New Hope Borough, Plumstead Twp, Richland Twp, Richlandtown Borough,Solebury Twp, and Upper Dublin Twp.

The following sewer clients in wholesale locations will also be affected:Bristol Twp, Hulmeville Borough, Langhorne Manor Borough, Lower Makefield Twp, Newtown Borough, NewtownTwp, Northampton Twp, and Penndel Borough.

The projected CPI increase will be 2.525% in 2014 and 2.525% in 2015. The 5.05% increase is effective January 1, 2014.Average retail monthly rate was $41.39 in 2013. The averageretail monthly rate will be $43.50 for 2014.BCWSA continually reinvests in the infrastructure thatserves its customers. This current increase will further thatongoing effort which involves pipe replacement, manholerehabilitation, Inflow and Infiltration reduction, energyefficiency initiatives and improved security at criticalfacilities.“Our primary goal is to continue to provide our customerswith quality service at an affordable rate. At times like this,while we absorb as much of the increases as we can, wemust still reach out to our customers to assist with coveringcosts,” said Benjamin Jones, CEO of the Authority.

Summer 2014

Putting Your MoneyTo Work For A Better

And Cleaner Future

Providing Quality Service at Affordable Rates

Joseph J. Ryan, BCWSA Board Member since 1989 retired from the Board ofDirectors in December. Joe, the longest serving BCWSA board member, was adear friend to BCWSA and will be missed.

With his strong knowledge of engineering and infrastructure, Joe wasinstrumental to the growth and success of BCWSA throughout the last 24 years.During his tenure with BCWSA his dedication assisted the Authority’s growthinto one of the largest in the State, serving 360,000 people in Bucks andMontgomery Counties.

“Joe was an integral part of the BCWSA family,” said Benjamin Jones, BCWSACEO. “We will be forever grateful for his service to those he worked with, his commitment to the communitieswe serve, and his unwavering pride in our company.”

Mr. Ryan holds an Associate's degree from Temple University College of Engineering. He is a retiredconstruction field engineer of Philadelphia Gas Works, after 34 years of service. He is a former member of theBensalem Township Board of Supervisors, Bensalem Township Planning Commission, and Bucks CountyBoard of Health. He is also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Temple University AlumniAssociation. He is a former President of the Eastern State School Advisory Board. All the best Joe!

BCWSA Partnership With Forest Park

The Source

As of July 1, 2014 BCWSA will be supplying drinking water from the Forest Park Water Plant in Chalfont, PA.Forest Park is a state of the art water treatment facility that combines conventional treatment processes with

advanced techniques, including ozone disinfection and membrane filtration technology.

The Authority teamed with Forest Park, jointly owned by the North Penn and North Wales Water Authorities, topurchase water for BCWSA’s water system in an effort to create long-term rate stability.

The Authority began looking for a new water supplier more than two years ago after the City of Philadelphia increasedBCWSA’s water rates by 127% over seven years. Current negotiations with the City have a proposed rate increase of100%, and the City of Philadelphia has not indicated that there will be an end to these extreme rate increases.

In order to facilitate the agreement between BCWSA and Forest Park there was a $100 million infrastructureinvestment to bring the Forest Park water into BCWSA’s service territory. A pipeline was run from Forest Park inChalfont to the BCWSA water system in Lower Southampton. The areas that will receive the water are Newtown,Northampton, Lower and Upper Southampton, Middletown, Bensalem, Penndel, Hulmville, Langhorne andLanghorne Manor.

“The Authority has been extremely concerned about the continued increase in our bulk water rates as a result ofthe City of Philadelphia,” said Benjamin Jones, CEO of BCWSA. “While this agreement does include an up-frontinvestment, it will ensure long-term rate stability and quality water for our customers.”

Longest ServingBoard Member Retires

Joe Ryan, BCWSA Board Member

Pictured on left: BCWSA Employees Mark Pizzo, Rick Mager,Jason Eves, Joe Santi, Glenn Fister, Vince Miele, Tom Raiker,Tom Huntzinger, Chris Haskins and Brad Montgomery.Missing: Scott Benninghoff and Glenn Huntzinger

The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority held our 13th Annual CharityGolf Outing on May 29, 2014 at Makefield Highlands Golf Club. Over the

past 13 years, the Authority and our friends, family and business partners havecome together to assist BCWSA in raising funds for various organizations thathave some impact on our employees. This year, BCWSA crossed the $330,000mark in funds donated through the years.

"It is incredible to see how many of our staff members, customers, friends andneighbors come together to help support the many fantastic programs in ourarea," said Benjamin Jones, CEO of the Authority. "We are truly thankfulto everyone who came to help this year – and all the years past."

Each year, BCWSA hosts the charitable golf outing to raise funds and awarenessabout organizations in need within our community. Funds raised during the2014 golf outing went to Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation and BucksCounty Special Needs. Each received $17,959.98.

The following are the charities and organizations thatBCWSA has supported since the inception of the annualgolf outing in 2002:

2002 Bucks County Down Syndrome Interest Group2003 Doylestown Hospital Hospice2004 Bucks County Chapter of NAMI2005 Delaware Valley Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis and Children’s Hospital2006 Make A Wish Foundation2007 Soldiers of Hope and Bucks for Kids2008 One Step at a Time and Bucks County Autism Support Coalition2009 Good Friends and Lenape Valley 2010 Bucks County Opportunity Council and Libertae, Inc.2011 Reach Out Foundation and Alzheimer’s Association/Delaware

Valley Chapter2012 Warriors for Tim and ADHD Aware2013 Ted Lindeman Outreach Foundation and The Guardians of the

National Cemetery

Summer 2014

BCWSA Hosts 13th AnnualCharity Golf Outing

Kudos FromCustomers

Dear Susan, I wanted to writeto thank you for resolving my

issue with my sewer bill. Iappreciate the extra work you didto research and rectify my situation.Many other institutions would notallow employees to expend sucheffort in providing good customerservice. I also wanted to say it wasa pleasant experience when I spoketo Gretchen and Cindy in yourdepartment as well. Muchappreciated.

~BCWSA Sewer Customer

Pictured on left: Pete Stainthorpe, Chairman ofBCWSA with founder of Curing Retinal BlindnessFoundation, Kristin Smedley and her two sons,Michael Smedley, Jr. and Mitchell Smedley.

CUSTOMER ALERT

Customers, if you pay yourbills through your bankinginstitution, please make sureyou update your BCWSA billremit address to our new bank:

Univest PO BOX 3333Harleysville, PA 19438

In case of water and seweremergencies please tune into WNPV1440 AM for Montgomery Countyand Central and Upper Bucks Countycustomers and WBCB 1490 AM forLower Bucks County customers.

For Customer Service, call

1-800-222-2068

www.bcwsa.net

IMPORTANT NOTE!

Pictured on left: Pete Stainthorpe,Chairman of BCWSAwith founder of BucksCounty Special Needs,Brian Domiani

Typically homeowners/commercial insurance covers the damagedone to our home and business, but what about repairing the

item that failed? What if you could offset those costs with aMaintenance Program for only $5 per month for residential and/or$10 per month for commercial property?

BCWSA now offers a comprehensive Residential/CommercialWater and Sanitary Sewer Lateral Maintenance Program. TheProgram can help offset the cost of repairing the pipes that comeinto and leave your property which typically cost between $3000and $5000 to replace for Residential and $10,000 for Commercial.

BCWSA's Lateral Maintenance Program offers customers thepeace-of-mind knowing that this potential problem that many insurance companies don't cover can now be protected,just like the rest of your home/business and property.

For more details or to sign up for the Maintenance Program, please visit www.bcwsa.net or call 215-343-2538 Ext. 140.This program does not apply to industrial or multi-family properties with more than six dwelling units. We lookforward to serving you.

Visit Our Improved Website for Easier Access to Payment Options

Water/Sewer Lateral Line Maintenance ProgramNOW AVAILABLE

WATER – OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCEWater is our most precious resource. It is vitally important that everyone work together to conserve our water supply.And, of course, saving water saves you money, especially important during these uncertain economic times. Homeowners can significantly decrease the amount of water used each day by following just a few simple “tips” forwater conservation.

Follow these tips for conserving water inside:l Run the dishwasher and clothes washer only when fully loaded. l When washing dishes by hand, use two basins - one for washing and one for rinsing rather than let the water run. l Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Dripping faucets can waste about 2,000 gallons of water each year. Leaky

toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons each day.l Check for leaky toilets. You can test your toilet for a leak by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet leaks, color

will appear in the toilet bowl within 15 minutes.l Take a look at your water meter while no water is being used in your house. If it goes up, you obviously have a

problem! This can also help you locate underground service leaks. l Take short showers instead of baths and avoid letting faucets run unnecessarily. l Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the tap run while you wait for cool water.