Utility Rates Will Increase In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, OH — Utility bills are going to get a little more expensive in Lakewood.

The city is implementing a five-year rate plan designed to fund improvements to the city's water and sewer infrastructure. That plan will increase residents' bills each year, so a typical resident's bill of six cubic feet of water per month will jump from $81.49 in 2018 to $87.82 in 2019.

To dive into specifics, water rates are going up by 5.5 percent, while sewer rates will increase 10 percent annually. The city said residents should expect an increase of approximately 7.8 percent, annually, for the next five years.

“Unlike most Cleveland inner-ring suburbs, we operate our own drinking water system, as well as our own sewer and waste treatment system,” Mayor Mike Summers said in a statement. “As is the case in many aspects of our city, we have to upgrade, replace, and continue to reinvest in our future. Our underground assets of water and sewer pipes are chief among these investments.”

A Homestead Exemption will be available for residents with a permanent disability, or residents that are 65 or older, with a total household income below $35,000 annually. The Homestead Exemption will grant a 45 percent discount on water, and a 25 percent discount on sewer.

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What will the increase in utility bills pay for exactly? About $58 million in watermain and sewer capital improvements. The city specifically cited the new High Rate Treatment facility, which will be installed next to the wastewater plant. The Treatment facility is designed to treat high flow from storm events, the city said. The facility should be working by 2022.

The five-year rate increase period also coincides with the city's outlined improvements under the Clean Water Act.

The streets that will see water main replacements this year include Lakewood Heights Boulevard, Lake Avenue, and Atkins Avenue, the city said.

The city has shared information on its sewer and water infrastructure upgrade projects online.

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch