City of Columbia water rates increase starting Tuesday
Residents of Columbia will see a rate increase for water starting with the city's new fiscal year on Tuesday.
The change will increase the current base fees and usage costs.
Base fees will increase from $12.00 to $12.48 and water rates will increase by around 4% for general use and 10% for summer and irrigation use.
Based on the city's Residential Water Bill Calculator, a Columbia resident who currently pays $31.02 for their water bill will have a $1.14 increase in charges with the total cost being $32.16.
Despite the increase, Columbia has the least expensive average monthly water bill compared to the average water utility cost in medium and large cities across Missouri, according to a water rate analysis report from the city.
Columbia resident Geoffrey Taylor appreciates the city's infrastructure problem but is wary of the increasing utility costs. Taylor adds that he has been conscious of his water use his whole life in hopes of reducing the price.
"I even got new utilities that are supposed to use less water, less electricity over the years. But all that doesn't matter, that the rates keep going up every year anyway," Taylor said.
New Columbia resident Marvin Gregory moved to Columbia from California and is used to limiting is own water use. Gregory said that he also expressed his worry of increasing utility costs.
"We work on a budget," Gregory said. "When the bills spike, it's like,'Oh, we didn't budget for that.' So it does cause a strain."
According to the city's website, this increase will be used to maintain and upgrade water utility capital improvements as operation and maintenance costs have grown. This rate increase is also being applied to commercial water use.
The city's website details different projects that Water & Light is working on like restoring the capacity of the McBaine Water Treatment Plant, investigating service lines for lead and modernizing the West Ash Pump Station.
City of Columbia Utilities has programs for both utility payment assistance and education on saving water and utilizing efficient appliances to reduce bill costs. Central Missouri Community Action also provides utility assistance and home weatherization.
