(Ed. Note: The following letter was sent to Superintendent Italo J. Vacchio and Commissioner Thomas J. Murray Jr. at the Port Washington Water District and is printed here at the author's request.)

I just received my water bill for the June 23 through Sept. 17, 2003 period and I must tell you I was shocked at the percentage increase.

I called your office and they confirmed that we actually used less water this year than in the same period in 2002. The increase on this bill is 48 percent over the 2002 bill and 60 percent over the 2001 bill, while the usage in the three years was almost identical.

I understand that the increase is only on the fourth and fifth block rates, however I believe that a 40-60 percent increase over the bills of the last few years is truly out of line.

While the economy is just beginning to recover and most wage earners are lucky if they received an annual increase of 5 percent, if at all, for your department to apply such an astronomical increase is hard to understand.

I must admit that I missed the public meetings about this increase, but I cannot believe that many people would have agreed to this if they understood the magnitude of the rate changes. A more equitable rate increase should be applied.

I request an immediate review of this policy and would like to know what the process is to reverse this decision.

Ron Menzel