A version of this letter was sent to Gov. Matt Meyer with a copy provided to the Cape Gazette for publication. It has been edited to meet the word limit.
We recently moved to Lewes from Easton, Md., where utilities were affordable and reasonable. We now live in Tower Hill, where Lewes BPW is the water utility provider.
The developer/builder installed a zoned irrigation system on each building lot and sodded each lot with water-thirsty fescue lawn. It seems we are expected to keep our lawns lush, growing and green all summer long, according to the HOA documents. In a world of limited resources and from an ecology viewpoint, it bothers me to see water wasted all summer. That said, I prefer to be a team player, so if lush, green and serene is the development’s mandate, I'll try to play.
When we moved in August 2024, our water/sewer bill was consistently over $300 and even over $400 a month. This is twice what my entire utility bill was in Easton. I adjusted/minimized the timing on our irrigation system but it made little difference in the last months of the 2024 growing season. Even a normal winter water bill (two people in the house with no irrigation usage) is approximately twice what I'm paying Delaware Electric Cooperative for electricity. Paying $160 a month for water is outrageous. According to some internet searches, the average water/sewer bill in Delaware is $46 a month. I have contacted Lewes BPW to no avail. Sadly, all I hear is excuses, finger pointing and passing the buck. We are on fixed incomes and find it difficult paying this water bill.
To add insult to these outrageous bills, the water pressure provided to us is minimal, making showering unpleasant, as it trickles from the shower head. I have no idea what kind of deals/decisions were cut between the developer, Sussex County and our water utility provider that may have contributed to poor choices for the residents of Tower Hill. This is amplified by the constant stories in the local news about uncontrolled/unbridled growth in Sussex County, traffic concerns, quality of life, disappearing farmland, etc.
I would sincerely appreciate if you or your staff would look into these outrageous water bills. It's not just me, but the whole community of Tower Hill and possibly others in the area being subjected to similar water bills. I hope you will consider not just energy, but all utilities in proposing your short- and long-term measures to bring utility costs under control and strengthen Delaware consumer protections.
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.
