Water Rates Boosted 10%

Water rates will increase about a $1 month for the 3,400 customers of Norwalk’s municipal water system.

The 10-percent rate hike, unanimously approved this week by the City Council, is intended to offset rising costs of leasing water and improving fire hydrants and wells, in addition to an expected salary increase for water workers.

Replacing old hydrants in the Independence Square area and repairing the city’s newest well will cost about $71,000, according to the Public Works Department, and purchase and leasing rights for water cost $39,000 more than last year. The 3.5-percent raise being negotiated for municipal workers would cost the department about $2,900 a year.

Without the extra revenue, the Water Utility Fund would have a deficit of $69,000, the department said.