By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Customers will likely see an increase in wastewater rates from the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District next year.
MSD's 15-member Rate Commission approved the recommended increases earlier this week. Under the proposal the average customer would pay nearly 37 dollars a month by 2012, about $15 more on average than currently.
MSD spokesman Lance LeCombe says the increases will help the utility deal with regulatory pressures.
"It's work that has to be done," LeCombe said. "It's environmental protection that has to take place. It's a long-term effort. And unfortunately, rates have to go up to fund the scope and just the sheer magnitude of the work that we have to deal with."
The Environmental Protection Agency and State of Missouri sued MSD in June over its failure to meet Clean Water standards.
Stormwater rates will also increase under the proposal, by about $7 a month by 2012.
MSD's Board of Trustees must wait 45 days before adopting the changes.