Proposed water hike in Fort Wayne may be re-evaluated

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - If you live in Fort Wayne, you could be paying 40 percent more per month for your water in just a couple years. The city council's looking at this proposal now.

Several Fort Wayne City Council members are concerned about water rates increasing. Although it will only mean $7 more a month for an average family it adds up.

"Sewer rates are going up, water rates are going up, you've got some inflation, the economy's not too good," City Council Member at Large John Crawford said.

City Utilities spokespeople say water mains are breaking at a faster rate year after year. More than 400 broke in 2011.

"The best way to avoid having main breaks and the best way to reduce the number of main breaks we have annually is by doing water main replacement," Fort Wayne City Utilities Spokeswoman Mary Jane Slaton said.

About five to six miles of pipe are replaced annually. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission recommends 12 miles a year. Slaton says the 40 percent increase will allow 10 miles of pipe to be replaced in years to come.

After all, she says clean, reliable water is essential for overall health, hospitals and fire fighting.

"When our fire fighters roll up to a fire they need to know that there's going to be water in the hydrant that they go to."

So, what does this mean if the 40 percent water rate increase is passed? An average family in the Summit City will pay $4 more in 2013, and $3 more in 2014.

And just to show where our current rate compares to other cities in Indiana we're paying less. Less than Terre Haute and Indianapolis.

Council Member at Large, John Crawford, says he and other council members would like to look at other options instead of a 40 percent increase.

"That's what we're talking about. We're trying to get some alternatives maybe now possibly even use some of the Legacy Fund other ways that we could spread this out and maybe make it not quite such an abrupt increase."

There will be a public meeting to discuss this next week at the City Council meeting.