We received an email from Dekalb County Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry and wanted to pass this information along, as the water and sewer line work, and water rates, affect everyone in our neighborhood. Here is the text of the email we received from Commissioner Terry in its entirety.
“Our county is at a crossroads as we determine which direction to go to continue the critical work of maintaining and upgrading our aging water and sewer system, while also under a Federal consent decree.
“Water is life—it’s a basic necessity that every person deserves access to without fear of unfair billing practices or financial hardship, and as your Super District Commissioner I’m committed to ensuring our policies reflect fairness, transparency, and accountability.
“Updating our water and sewage systems won’t come cheap, which is why a rate increase is now on the table – to prevent bigger problems down the line. However, I understand the concerns that many residents have shared about affordability and equity. That’s why I’m supporting a slate of targeted reforms to offer a safety net for low-income residents facing rate increases, cut through billing confusion, and instill real consequences for mismanagement.
“What These Reforms Would Accomplish
1. A Water Customer Advocate Office: Too often, residents have struggled to resolve billing disputes with the Watershed Department. That’s why I’m fighting for the creation of a Water Customer Advocate Office by January 2026. This office will work hand-in-hand with a restructured Watershed Customer Service and Billing Advisory Board to improve customer service and provide residents with a clear, transparent process to resolve billing issues.
2. Support for Low-Income Ratepayers: Fully funding the DeKalb C.A.R.E.S. Discount Program, which provides meaningful financial assistance to those who need it most. This ensures that rate increases don’t disproportionately burden our most vulnerable neighbors. This program is crucial because most abnormally high water bills in our system are the result of old pipes in old homes breaking. Plumbing repairs can range from the $100s to several thousand dollars, repairs that must be made before bill credits can be issued. Ensuring that customers like our fixed-income seniors can pay for these repairs is fundamental to an equitable system.
3. Protection from Unfair Water Disconnections: Under these reforms, no resident will face water shutoffs while their bill is in dispute. Additionally, for those who believe they were unfairly excluded from the dispute process, we’re creating a pathway to have their cases reviewed by the new Water Customer Advocate Office. Customers will also have access to a seven-year payment plan, giving them more time to address outstanding bills without the threat of disconnection.
4. Holding the Watershed Department Accountable: To ensure that ratepayer dollars are being used effectively and responsibly, I’ve called for a comprehensive operational audit of the Watershed Department to be completed by January 2026. This audit will identify inefficiencies, eliminate waste, and ensure that resources are allocated where they’re needed most.
5. Planning for a Sustainable Future: As part of our efforts to modernize our infrastructure, we’ll initiate a master planning process for the Pole Bridge Wastewater Treatment Facility. This plan will focus on sustainability goals, environmental stewardship, and addressing community concerns such as brownfield remediation.
6. Establishing a Long-Term Rate Plan: Considering a 10-year Water and Sewer rate plan with a steady 8% annual increase. This approach would provide the predictability needed for residents to plan their budgets while securing the funding necessary to meet the demands of our aging infrastructure and Federal mandates. Furthermore the potential savings by structuring contracts over longer periods of time, cannot be understated. By planning ahead, we ensure the work gets done, on time and on budget, mitigating the extreme inflationary pressure in the overall construction price index that has seen costs for pipes, materials and labor spike to all-time highs. This is costing us a lot, and at the end of the day, my goal is to provide the best value for the best service possible for ALL DeKalb water customers.
“Why This Matters
“We can’t ignore the fact that DeKalb County’s water and sewer system is decades old and in desperate need of repair. The Federal consent decree requires us to make these improvements, but we must do so in a way that prioritizes fairness and equity. These reforms are designed to balance the financial realities of maintaining a reliable water system with the need to protect ratepayers.
“How You Can Get InvolvedI want to hear directly from you! Join me for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) Townhall on Zoom, happening Tuesday, December 10th, at 5:30 PM. This is your opportunity to ask questions about the proposed rate increase, share your concerns, and provide input on the policies we’re working to implement. Your voice matters, and this conversation is critical to ensuring we make decisions that reflect the needs and values of our community. If you can’t make the Zoom event, or even if you can and want to submit some questions ahead of time, please send me your questions using this quick form.
“These amendments are just the first step in creating a plan forward that works for all residents of DeKalb and I look forward to connecting with you and hearing your thoughts. Together, we can build a water and sewer system that works for everyone in DeKalb County.
“Thank you for staying engaged and for being part of this important conversation. – Ted”