Lawsuit vs. Milford Water Co. Gains Class Action Status

A lawsuit filed in 2009 against the Milford Water Co. by six town residents was certified this week as a class action, which potentially opens it to several thousand more consumers.

A lawsuit filed three years ago by six Milford residents who say they were harmed by drinking water supplied by the Milford Water Co., or who suffered financial losses during a boil-water incident, has been approved for class action status. The status change was approved Monday by Superior Judge John McCann in Worcester Superior Court. The decision opens the lawsuit, which seeks recovery of financial losses, to all customers of the Water Company, or their children, or other water users, who were damaged or injured between Aug. 5 and 21, 2009 as a result of the boil water order issued by the state, or the "Milford Water Company's failure to provide potable water and adequate service during that time period." The boil water order was issued …

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Letter: Water Rate Request an 'Unjustifiable Financial Hardship'

In a joint letter to the secretary of the state Department of Public Utilities, state Sen. Richard Moore and state Rep. John Fernandes oppose a rate increase of 83 percent.

Editor's Note: the following letter by state Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) and state Rep. John V. Fernandes (D-Milford) was sent to Mark Marini, secretary of the state Department of Public Utilities, concerning a request for a water rate increase of 83 percent filed by the Milford Water Company. Dec. 12, 2012 Dear Secretary Marini: The purpose of this letter is to formally advise you of our opposition to the proposed rate increase of approximately eighty-three percent (83%) sought by the Milford Water Company in the above referenced petition. This Petition comes on the heels of a recent rate increase of approximately thirty-three percent (33%) that was approved in 2011. We find the current proposal outrageous and know that it will …

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Water Rate Hearing Draws Nearly 300

Milford residents spoke angrily Wednesday of a proposal by the Milford Water Co. to increase rates by 83 percent.

Describing a proposed water rate increase of 83 percent as "outrageous" and "inconceivable," Milford residents and officials blasted the request at a public hearing Wednesday. The hearing filled the top floor of Milford Town Hall to beyond-seating capacity. Nearly 300 people attended. Residents stood along the windows of the meeting space, and many took seats in the balcony section. In comments, frustrated residents said they felt trapped by a private water utility that is their only source for drinking water. "The Milford Water Company is a monopoly," said Mary Langford. "We don't have another water company to turn to. It's a huge problem. I'm appalled. That's it." Another resident, Mark Cabral, pointed out that Water Company customers …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter: Milford Water Company Maintains a Monopoly on our Water Service

In a letter shared with Milford Patch, Milford resident Ted Grevers challenges the proposed water rate hike of 83 percent requested by Milford Water Company.

Editor's Note: the following letter concerning the Milford Water Company's rate hearing was shared with Milford Patch. As a resident of Milford, I think it's crazy that the RH White Companies, Inc., WhiteWater, Inc. and the Milford Water Company (MWC) are considering raising Milford's water rates by 83 percent! The citizens of Milford have lost confidence in the MWC, and their ability to deliver a safe and quality product. I'm thankful that the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office is now looking closer at their situation. In 2009, Henry Papuga allegedly tampered with water samples "under pressure to demonstrate that the water was safe to consume." One need not try too hard to imagine where that "pressure" might have come from. The …

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Milford Selectmen Urge Public to Attend Water Rate Hearing

Milford officials say few people showing up at the public hearing Wednesday on a water rate increase would send a message of indifference to the state's Department of Public Utilities.

Town officials are encouraging residents to attend the Milford Water Co. rate hearing Wednesday, to share their opinions on the proposed increase. The state Department of Public Utilities will hold the public hearing at Milford Town Hall, in the upper floor, to accommodate a large crowd. The meeting is from 7 to 9:30 p.m. "If nobody shows up, that sends them a certain message," said Town Counsel Gerry Moody last week. Moody prepared a series of slides, broadcast on Milford TV, which shows the impact of the proposed 83 percent rate increase on customers, including the town of Milford. The information included the following points: Editor's Note: for previous stories of the water rate request, please see the topic page. The Water Company …

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Mary MacDonald

12:00 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012

The address for written comments: Mark Marini, Department of Public Utilities Secretary, Department of Public Utilities, 1 South Station, Boston, MA 02110, Docket No. 1286.   more ›

State Attorney General to Intervene in Water Co. Request for Rate Hike

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is reviewing the documents submitted by the Milford Water Company in its request for a rate increase.

Editor's Note: the following press release was issued by the office of state Attorney General Martha Coakley this month. The Milford Water Company has requested an 83 percent increase in water rates. According to an exhibit in the Water Company filing, the "typical" quarterly bills for residential customers would increase from $77.31 to $141.79. A hearing before the state Department of Public Utilities, which will decide on the rate increase, is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Milford Town Hall. The town of Milford has already intervened in the rate request; now the state attorney general is doing the same, under a new state law that authorizes this action.  Applying the same advocacy and oversight principles used in gas and …

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Carolyn Kahn

2:08 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012

There is also "Stand Up to Milford Water Company" on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/StandUptoMilfordWaterCompany   more ›

Hearing Scheduled in Water Company Rate Request

A public hearing will be held Dec. 12 at Milford Town Hall on an application by the Milford Water Company for an 83 percent rate increase.

How do you feel about a near-doubling of your water bill? Strong feelings either way? Then save the date of Dec. 12. This is your chance to tell state officials what you think of the proposal put forward by the Milford Water Company. The state Department of Public Utilities will hold a public hearing, at Milford Town Hall, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The hearing is the first step in a lengthy process to determine whether the rate increase sought by the water utility company should be approved. In a filing made with the state DPU in October, the Milford Water Co. is seeking an 83 percent rate increase, for residential, commercial, industrial and town customers. Milford officials are planning to challenge the rate request. Special town meeting …

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Trial of Henry Papuga, Former Water Co. Manager, Rescheduled to November

Updated: Henry Papuga, who for years was the public face of the Milford Water Company, will be tried on state charges that he intentionally tampered with drinking water samples.

Updated: the trial of Henry Papuga, former manager of the Milford Water Company, will begin with jury selection on Nov. 28, according to the state attorney's office. The trial had been scheduled to begin Monday, but was rescheduled due to conflicts.   Original post: Three years ago last summer, when Milford residents were told to boil their drinking water for two weeks, the general manager of the Milford Water Company was under tremendous pressure to fix the problem, according to public officials. Was Henry Papuga, of Milford, under so much pressure that he intentionally added a chemical to drinking water samples, to lift the boil water order? That's the contention of state prosecutors. Papuga will be tried next week on six counts of …

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Milford Water Co. to Seek 90 Percent Rate Increase

The Milford Water Co. has revised its expected rate increase request. The utility is expected to seek a hike of about 90 percent, the largest in its history.

The Milford Water Co. will ask state regulators to allow it to nearly double the water rate: as much as a 90 percent increase. The private utility informed Milford town leaders of the anticipated rate request Wednesday. The filing with the state Department of Public Utilities is expected by Monday. The town is expected to intervene in the request, said Town Counsel Gerry Moody. "I don't feel they're entitled to it," he said Thursday. The rate hike request is based on the value of the new water treatment facility under construction on Dilla Street. The facility is now expected to be completed at a cost of about $25 million, said Water Co. General Manager David Condrey. Company officials met Thursday with Moody, and Town Administrator Louis …

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Anonymous

10:29 am on Friday, October 12, 2012

They don't care that we're struggling   more ›

Milford Water Company Strengthens Outdoor Watering Restrictions

Effective Tuesday, Milford customers of the Milford Water Co. can only use a hand-held hose or watering can to water outdoor plantings.

The Milford Water Company has strengthened outdoor watering restrictions, advising customers that they may only water outdoor plantings using a hand-held hose. The watering restriction means that customers can only water outdoors between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., when water is less likely to evaporate. And customers can only water with hand-held devices, for no more than an hour. The Stage III restrictions do not apply to people who water with wells. The restrictions take effect Tuesday and will remain in effect until further notice. David Condrey, general manager of the Milford Water Co., cited the recent heat wave and lack of precipitation. "We all appreciated the lack of snow this winter, but the downside is the effect on water supplies …

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