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Member Update (MU06-22)

Member Pipeline - Member Services & Information - Update (MU06-22)

To: Members & Affiliates *
From: National Office
Date: November 6, 2006
Subject:

2006 NACWA INDEX SURVEY

Reference: MU 06-22

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Action Please By:
December 15, 2006

Since 1992, NACWA has published the NACWA Index annually to track average annual single-family residential service charge increases as measured against the rate of inflation. Because there is a wide range of rate structures implemented by utilities (e.g., one or a combination of flat rates, fixed or tiered volume rates, tax rates), the average annual single-family residential sewer service charge (inclusive of collection and treatment) provides a consistent benchmark to measure the price of service and changes in the price of service among public utilities by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) region and nationally.

The one-page Index survey requests the average annual single-family residential sewer service charge and service population of each NACWA utility respondent (see attached survey questionnaire). From these values, a population-weighted nationwide average annual single-family residential service charge and annual NACWA Index are determined. The Index is representative of the Association’s broad membership, and this valuable resource continues to be used by wastewater agencies and national policymakers. Individual agency responses are kept confidential.

Complete the 2006 NACWA Index Survey — Also Available Online!
Attached is your agency’s individualized one-page survey questionnaire requesting information for 2006. Your agency’s past survey responses (if applicable) are provided on the survey form along with the names of the person(s) who provided the information. If historical information is missing or inaccurate, please feel free to add or modify this data directly on the survey form. Changes will be reflected in this year’s NACWA Index. Please complete the survey questionnaire and return it via fax to Mark Hoeke, NACWA’s contractor, at 202/318-1472 no later than December 15, 2006. In order to ensure consistency, the 2006 NACWA Index survey questionnaire should ideally be completed by the same individual who submitted information for your agency in the past (refer to attached survey form for the names of your agency’s respondents).

As an alternative to the hard copy form, NACWA also offers the ability to complete the survey online through CleanWater Central. Follow these steps to submit your survey response online:

  1. Go to the CleanWater Central homepage at http://www.cleanwatercentral.org.

  2. Click on "Enter private subscribers area".

  3. Enter your NACWA Member Pipeline ID (website ID) and password and then click on "login".

  4. At your agency profile page, click on "Surveys" on the top menu.

  5. At surveys menu page click on 2006 NACWA Index in the active NACWA/WERF surveys box.

  6. Complete the brief 2006 NACWA Index survey questionnaire, and click on "Submit". You should receive a pop-up box indicating that your responses have been submitted. Alternatively, you may save your responses for later submittal by clicking on "Save".

Interested in past NACWA Index survey results? Check out the "Reports" section of CleanWater Central online. Click on the "Survey Data" reports category, and then click on the "Average Annual Household User Charge (NACWA Index)" report to view summary statistics or the distribution of service charges from past years.

2005 Index Shows Charges Increased Double the Rate of Inflation
The 2005 Index shows that the average cost of wastewater services for a single-family residence increased by 6.9% from 2004, more than double the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. For the fourth year in a row, the increase in the nationwide average annual charge has outpaced inflation. This upward trend will likely continue over the next decade as the clean water community works to address the infrastructure funding gap, the rising costs associated with existing requirements, system expansion to facilitate development, and future environmental regulations. The 2005 Index is available on NACWA’s publications site http://www.nacwa.org/pubs/#stats.

Your Participation Is Encouraged!
Please take a moment to complete the attached Index survey questionnaire either online (http://www.cleanwatercentral.org) or via hard copy. Again, please fax completed hard copies to Mark Hoeke at 202/318-1472 no later than Friday, December 15, 2006. If you have any questions about the attached survey form or any of the historical data please contact NACWA’s contractor, Mark Hoeke at 202/361-7446 or mhoeke@dfinet.ch, or Chris Hornback at NACWA’s National Office, 202/833-9106 or chornback@nacwa.org.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important request.

 

* This Member Update Has Been Provided to Affiliates for Information Purposes Only.