GERMANTOWN, Tenn. — Almost one year to the day after a 2023 diesel fuel spill left more than 40,000 people in Germantown without usable water for nearly a week, city leaders announced that water, sewer and sanitation rates are going up.
The city said the price hikes are meant to offset the cost of inflation for water and sewage treatment and infrastructure investment. A City of Germantown spokesperson said this rate hike was going to happen regardless of the 2023 water contamination after not raising rates since 2022.
“I don’t like it, but if it’s going to give us good drinking water, safe drinking water, we’re going to have to work around it,” said long-time Germantown resident Providence Rose.
Residential customers who use an average of 4,000 gallons per month will see an increase of $8.72, which adds up to an extra $104.64 per year.
“A lot of us retired people that live in Germantown; we all live on a limited income, we have to budget everything,” Rose said.
Germantown leaders said in addition to adjusting for inflation increases in water system maintenance, the added revenue will also cover the operation of a second water tower, which is set to be up and running in 2024.
“If it’s just a little bit every month and it takes care of it, it’s better than a big amount all at once,” said Debbie Kermick, another longtime Germantown resident.
Rose said she already practices water conservation, and the city recommends things like shorter showers and turning the faucet off right away.
“I’m even very careful about my laundry, how many days, when I do my laundry, usually in the evening, things like that,” Rose said.
Germantown said that Memphis Light Gas and Water is working to get the electricity in place on the second tower, and it will likely be in service as soon as September. City leaders said the second tower will significantly limit the impact of another water crisis.