Starting Jan. 1, your water bill is going up -- by 15 percent.
The increase, recommended by the Ohio EPA and approved by Tuesday night, will mean rates increasing to $23.74 in 2012 from the current $20.64 per 1,000 cubic feet.
“I’m advocating raising rates to maintain our operation and to do capital projects,” said Service Director Valerie Wax Carr when explaining the rates during committee meeting Dec. 19. “That is what I’m most concerned about.”
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These projects include the many water main breaks and potential breaks in Cuyahoga Falls.
With the average household usage at 1,000 cubic feet of water per month, a Cuyahoga Falls household will pay about $37 more annually, according to Carr in a letter to City Council.
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“It is still $3.23 [per month] lower than any other community in the area, even with our increase,” Carr said.
In making the decision, the service department compared Cuyahoga Falls rates to surrounding cities such as Stow, Kent, Hudson, Tallmadge and Monroe Falls.
All other ordinances passed last night at the council meeting.