Hingham Water Board Advances 3% Rate Hike and New $65 Capital Charge

HINGHAM — January 28, 2026 — Hingham water officials propose 3% rate increase and new $65 annual capital charge for single-family customers. The Board of Water Commissioners held a joint public hearing Wednesday with the Advisory Committee and Citizens Advisory Board to present the changes, which would take effect July 1, 2026, and raise the average quarterly residential bill approximately 7.2 percent — from about $340 to roughly $367. Water Superintendent Russell Tierney cited cost increases across all major supply categories since the system's 2020 acquisition, including a 32 percent rise in Veolia contract costs and a 45 percent jump in water meter prices. Citizens Advisory Board Chair David Anderson endorsed the proposal, calling it "consistent with the models developed at the time of the water company acquisition." The $65 annual capital debt service assessment, which will appear as $16.25 per quarter, is tied exclusively to bonding the new Hull storage tank, pump booster station, and Turkey Hill Tank rehabilitation, and is structured to drop off bills entirely after 30 years.