ORANGE — The Sewer Commission voted unanimously this week to raise the sewer rate by 22.32% to adequately operate the wastewater treatment facility at 295 West Main St.

The commission, made up of the town’s Selectboard members, continued on Wednesday a discussion that began on May 14 with Wastewater Superintendent Oscar Rodriguez and David Prickett of DPC Engineering. Member Jane Peirce’s peers opted to pass her motion to adjust the sewer rate from $12.50 per 100 cubic feet to $15.29 per 100 cubic feet, effective the start of the fiscal year on July 1.

“Well, I’m not willing to go to [the suggested] $18,” she said.

“I agree,” Clerk Andrew Smith said. “I think it’s too much too quickly.”

Prickett explained the sewer rate had not increased since fiscal year 2022.

“Over that same time, from FY22 to FY25, your expenses budget has increased 83%,” he said.

Prickett mentioned the high costs can be attributed to debt service payments for the recent treatment plant upgrade, a mandatory increase in labor costs, and hikes in various other costs.

“Five years ago there were 20 places we could get rid of sludge. Now there’s six,” he said.

Rodriguez had previously explained that the cost of hauling away sludge is set to go up 155.56% – from 18 cents per gallon to 46 cents. He mentioned the sludge gets disposed of in a Lowell facility. He said Montague has a backup option available, but that facility’s requirements for the sludge — which contains water, dissolved organic and inorganic materials and suspended solids — is not feasible for Orange.

On Wednesday, Prickett said it would have been better to increase the rate 16% annually over the last four years. The engineer also explained that Orange’s costs are high because there are so few ratepayers sharing the expense of operating the system.

Rodriguez said the labor costs are derived from a state Department of Environmental Protection requirement for the treatment plant to have five employees. But resident Rhonda Bartlett, who attended the meeting remotely, told Rodriguez she wants to see that document and implied she plans to reach out to the wastewater superintendent to set up a time to meet.

Resident Ann Reed thanked the Sewer Commissioners for their work but said this situation makes her uneasy.

“It’s kind of concerning to me that Orange’s rates fell far below the state median … and for some unexplained reason they now exceed the state median,” she said.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.