Look for water rates to rise sharply

Evanston's combined water and sewer charges are expected to increase by nearly 70% over the next decade as the city hurries to meet new federal deadlines for replacing lead service lines.

That's the message from Water Production Bureau Chief Darrell King in a presentation scheduled for a special City Council meeting Monday night.

New federal rules issued last month cut to 10 years the time for replacing the hazardous lead lines, from a 20-year schedule imposed by the state.

That, King says, means the annual cost for replacing the lead lines is expected to increase from $11.7 million to $23.4 million a year.

In addition, the city has seen a 32% increase in the cost per linear foot of replacing the city's aging water mains over the past five years. And he says the disturbance to the water mains caused by replacement of the services lines is expected to lead to more water main breaks, and the need to replace more mains.

The city also needs to maintain a healthy reserve in its water fund, King says, to continue to qualify for low interest loans and grants that help fund water projects.

King is recommending increases of 13.5% each year for the next six years followed by increases of 3.5% after that.

But he says that with the planned 2025 rate increase, Evanston's combined water and sewer cost for an average residential customer would be the sixth lowest among two dozen nearby communities surveyed.