Water in Troy's Camelot Gonna Costalot

The price of water went up in Camelot.

The Illinois Commerce Commission approved the higher water and sewer rates earlier this month.

Camelot Utilities Inc. filed to raise water and sewer rates in December. According to a release distributed by the ICC, the utility company claimed it needed additional revenue to pay for capital improvements made over the years and to cover higher operating costs.

Camelot subdivision, which is in right outside , had not seen a rate increase in water or sewer rates since 1993, the ICC release said. Camelot Utilities was looking to boost water revenues by about $191,662. It wanted $107,456 more in sewer revenue.

The increases would have effectively doubled the water rates for Camelot residents, according to the Troy Township Board of Trustees. The trustees objected to the rate hike.

Will County Board Member Don Gould (R-Shorewood), also objected to the rate increase. Gould spoke out against boosting the price of water in a public appeal to the ICC.

The new water rates approved by the ICC are expected to generate an additional $162,124 annually for Camelot, with sewer rates producing an additional $94,259.

"I am glad they didn’t adopt the entire rate increase, but this is still an unbearable decision to put on people in these hard economic times — especially when the water quality does not live up to the price the residents will pay," said Troy Township Trustee Jim McFarland.

The new rates are to take effect in the next billing period.