The Erie County Water Authority is raising water rates, increasing the quarterly infrastructure charge and planning to borrow money to pay for a much-expanded capital spending plan.
Pipes are hitting the century mark and some are failing a lot sooner than that.
Authority Chairman Earl Jann says there's a more expensive capital spending plan on the way. Still, Jann says a rate increase under four-percent isn't large.
"The average customer uses about 10,000 gallons per quarter. So, you're not looking at a tremendous dollar increase," Jann explained.
That's about 12 cents more for each thousand gallons. There's also a hike in the quarterly infrastructure charge, to help pay for a spending plan for this year of $29 million. That's up a lot from years around 17 or 18-million.
"Our average customer right now is only paying about $50 a quarter for water," Jann said
The chairman is expecting to borrow money to pay for some of the capital costs, with the current debt load gradually shrinking.
