'Insanity': Rising Clean Rivers fee forces some D.C. churches to shut down

(Worthy News) - Nearly a decade after the District’s water authority levied a “Clean Rivers” surcharge to help clean up local waterways, faith community leaders say that ever-rising rates have forced them to cut back on services, lay off staff and — in at least 30 cases — move out or shut down completely.

Churches and other houses of worship, they say, have special operating requirements that add to the surcharge on their water bills.

The Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge is based on the “impervious area” square footage of a property. The measure includes parking lots, sidewalks and any land that rainwater cannot permeate. Religious properties tend to own more impervious land than typical ratepayers, and even their cemeteries count against them when the tax is calculated.

The Clean Rivers charge first appeared on customers’ water bills on May 1, 2009, at $1.24 per equivalent residential unit, or square footage. By this year, the rate had skyrocketed to $25.18. Churches and synagogues routinely pay up to $15,000 a month. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More...) ]