The Town of Hillsborough is implementing new water and sewer fees for development-related activities, as well as to deter tampering with water meters and fire hydrants.

Tampering with a water meter will now carry a $350 fee and $500 civil penalty, which will double on future offenses within a two-year period. Tampering with a fire hydrant carries a $500 fee and $3,000 civil penalty, which will double on any future offenses at any time.

The Hillsborough Board of Commissioners approved these two changes to its Code of Ordinances earlier in the summer. The fees had been in place before, but were suspended in June 2020 due to “a misunderstanding of the statutory ability to do so.”

Additionally, a second amendment to the code will allow the collection of fees for new developments and connections to the water and sewer systems. Previous fees had been charged to development “that adds more demand to the utility system.”

The new fees went into effect at the beginning of the fiscal year, which started July 1. Customers who tamper with their water meter will be charged directly through their utility bill, though most of the new fees are paid by developers or builders.

For more information, click here.

 

Featured image via Town of Hillsborough

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