City implements water rate hike

Last edited 1:23 p.m., July 2, 2015

The city of Springfield yesterday implemented a planned wastewater rate hike for customers.

Set to start appearing on customers’ August bills, an average residential user of 4,488 gallons will see their monthly payments rise 3 percent to $28.11 from $27.29, according to a news release. The city contracts with City Utilities for wastewater services billing.

The increase is part of the city’s $50 million Early Action Plan approved in 2011. The plan will continue to raise sewer rates through 2017.

Last month, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources gave the city its stamp of approval on a new $200 million plan to control sewer overflow. City officials estimate sewer rates would need to increase roughly 6 percent annually after 2017 for 10 years, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.[[In-content Ad]]