City Water Rate to Increase May 1

The has so far absorbed the water rate increase handed down from Chicago Jan. 1, but that’s about to change. 

Starting May 1, the water rate for Darien residents who use city water will go up to $5.90 per 1,000 gallons, pending an ordinance the council will likely vote on in mid-March.

It’s a $1 increase over the current rate of $4.90 per 1,000 gallons.

Darien gets its water from the DuPage Water Commission, which receives it from the city of Chicago. In the fall Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced an increase in its rates over the next four years to pay for upgrades in the city’s water delivery system. Chicago increased its rates by 25 percent for 2012 and will increase rates by another 15 percent for each of the next three years.

The DuPage Water Commission transfers and sells water from Lake Michigan to 24 municipalities and unincorporated areas in the county. The commission’s funding comes from the sale of the water plus a quarter-cent countywide sales tax.

The commission is expected to increase its rates by 20 percent in 2013, 18 percent in 2014, and 17 percent in 2015, to pay off a $70 million debt.

Darien’s draft fiscal year 2013 budget projects the rate the city charges residents will increase to $6.80 per 1,000 gallons in 2014 and $7.75 per 1,000 gallons in 2015.