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SITKA, ALASKA
Under the plan, sewer rates would increase $4.53 a month. The base water rate will increase $2.91per month. It’s the third year of five years of increases.

Mark Buggins is environmental superintendent for the City of Sitka.

“This rate increase was necessary to cover operating costs, capital costs, and also system reinvestment, to put some money in the bank if you will, for our sinking fund,” he said.

One of those capital costs will be a federally required ultraviolet treatment system for Sitka’s water.

Sitka resident Florian Sever objected to the rate increases. He said UV treatment would kill bacteria and reduce the need for chlorine in the water, but that his primary concern was a pollutant called dioxin. Buggins says the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied Blue Lake a few years ago, specifically looking for dioxin, and determined that there was no danger.

The rate increases don’t become official until the proposal gets a second reading, most likely at the next Assembly meeting, which is scheduled for June 28.
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