Police called after harassment incident at Madison Water Utility Facility

A Madison Water Utility employee called police this morning after being harassed at an east side well facility. Someone approached the employee outside the well and began cursing and harassing the employee, refusing to leave. The man appeared to be upset about a potential increase in water rates.

Madison Water Utility would like to remind people that our employees in the field are working to ensure that we deliver safe, reliable water to the public. It’s true that water rates could increase by $5 to $9 a month this fall, but we ask that people respect our employees, who have important work to carry out. Questions about any possible revenue increase should be directed to our main phone number, (608) 266-4651.

While the utility did indeed spend about $6 million more on operations and repairs in 2017 than we took in through water bills, there was no mismanagement of funds or frivolous spending. Our spending for the year actually came in under budget. But revenues from water bill payments we received throughout the year – our only source of income – fell short of what we predicted.

And finally, that $6 million cash flow issue did not cause the upcoming rate increase. We filed a rate application with the Public Service Commission last fall, and rates would be rising about 32% overall whether there was a cash flow issue or not. Even with a possible rate increase, the Madison’s water rates are in line with the state average for mid-size to large water utilities.

We are proud to be in our 136th year providing safe water and fire protection to Madison as a publicly owned and operated utility. Our crews maintain 22 wells sites, 5 water towers, 8 large ground level reservoirs, 6 stand-alone pumping stations, 18,792 street valves, and nearly 900 miles of water main. We ask that they be allowed to carry out their critical work and the utility’s mission without fear of harassment.