The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) is proposing a 6.8 percent increase in water and sewer rates for next year.
Anne Hayden with SAWS says the bulk of the rate increase is needed to meet an agreement with the EPA to reduce sewer spills.
“Two-thirds of the revenue is going to go toward capital improvements which will mainly be work on our wastewater system to meet the requirements of the (EPA) consent decree,” said Hayden.
Hayden says the rest of the increase will be used to replace aging water mains and for infrastructure that will link the future Vista Ridge pipeline to the SAWS water distribution system.
Hayden says if the SAWS board approves the increase customers will see it reflected in their February 2017 bills. The average household will pay $3.79 more a month or just over $45 more a year.
Former customers of the BexarMet water system which was absorbed by SAWS will see a slightly larger rate hike of 7.8 percent.