I really don't think it is a matter of towns and counties that just keep "gouging".  From what I see here, these sewer authorities are stand-along entities - they need to be self-supporting.  A lot of the rise in costs is due to the environmental regulations these authorities are facing.  These regulations are not getting less,  they are not getting any less expensive,  and these sewer authorities have no control over the regulations.   So,  the customer ends up "coughing it up".