Higher Water Rates Are Necessary to Protect Purcellville’s Future

Dear Editor:
 
The Town of Purcellville is facing a difficult but unavoidable reality: utility rates must rise if we are serious about addressing the 21st century water infrastructure challenges facing Western Loudoun County.
 
For many years, Purcellville was able to keep water rates artificially low because of unusually favorable economic conditions. Following the 2008 recession and again during the COVID crisis, historically low interest rates made borrowing for infrastructure projects significantly cheaper. That era is ending.
 
Today, inflationary pressures are driving construction and infrastructure costs dramatically higher. We have already seen this firsthand with the Town’s Water Tower project, whose projected costs increased by more than $1.7 million in less than three years. These are not temporary problems. They reflect long-term economic realities that communities across the country are now confronting.
 
At the same time, Northern Virginia’s economic prosperity remains heavily dependent on federal spending and federal employment. As our national debt continues to grow, pressure to reduce federal spending will likely intensify, creating additional economic uncertainty for our region in the years ahead. This also means that the state and county grant funding the Town has traditionally relied upon for major infrastructure projects will likely become more limited and increasingly competitive as local
governments across Virginia compete for fewer available resources.
 
The Town cannot continue moving from one budget season to the next simply searching for small spending cuts and efficiencies while avoiding the larger structural problem: the continued subsidization of water rates. We cannot balance the budget by reducing support for our police and fire departments, cutting programs that support local businesses, or placing additional strain on Town staff who are part of the solution, not the problem. Every time the Town uses reserves to close budget gaps instead of addressing the true cost of maintaining and modernizing our utility infrastructure, we are borrowing from Purcellville’s future.
 
I agree with Mayor Christopher Bertaut that Loudoun County “owes us.” The County benefits substantially from Purcellville’s water infrastructure, particularly through the many non-taxable public facilities it operates within the Town. Loudoun County is also one of the largest consumers of water in Purcellville and should contribute its fair share toward the infrastructure investments necessary to modernize a system built for 20th century demands but now facing 21st century challenges. The fairest and most responsible way to ensure the County pays its share is through higher water rates tied directly to the amount of water it consumes.
 
Still, even if Loudoun County steps up, residents and local businesses will likely need to endure higher utility rates during this transition. That financial burden will not be easy, and the reality is that doing the right thing for our town’s future often comes with difficult short-term sacrifices. The financial pain will be real for many families and businesses.

But Purcellville is a resilient community. Throughout its history, our town has overcome economic hardships, growth pressures, and changing times by confronting challenges directly rather than postponing them. We have always come together during difficult times, and we will face these challenges together as a community.
 
If we make responsible decisions now, even difficult ones, we can protect the long-term stability of our water system, preserve our quality of life, and ensure a stronger future for the next generation.
 
  
Daniel Carvill
Purcellville

Editor’s Note: At the May 12 Purcellville Council meeting utility rates were raised 16.5% for water and 14.5% for sewer.