The OWASA board of directors approved a rate increase averaging 9.25 percent last week. The hike raises rates $6.95 for customers using 5,000 gallons of service per month.
The OWASA board cited declining water sales and a need to replace out-of-date infrastructure as factors in the decision. The increase is expected to cover a 1.7 percent net budget increase for 2011, which includes money for the resumption of water-testing programs suspended as a result of budget limitations in 2010. Next year’s budget also sets aside $9.7 million to pay off bonds issued to fund now-completed capital projects.