I know I am new to the area and there is much I have yet to learn, but when I received my first full sewer/water bill today, I was shocked at the amount. The bill is literally about three times what I am used to paying.

The breakdown: 1) city sewer charge, 2) LOTT treatment, 3) resident base rate, 4) water consumption, 5) storm water, 6) utility tax.

Essentially this seems to mean that we pay to transport the sewage material from our residences, to treat the sewage at the LOTT facility, an obligatory "base rate" which has not been fully explained to my satisfaction, general water consumption, storm water, and finally a utility tax as the grand finale.

If I didn't know better I would think that either we have a brand spanking new waste water treatment plant and the facility is passing startup costs on to the consumer, OR there is some sort of sewer treatment Cosa Nostra profiting mightily on Oly effluent.