Council Committee To Look At Water Rates

A Louisville Metro Council committee will investigate the necessity of an increase in water rates Monday.The city’s Board of Water Works approved a 5.5% rate increase for water service last month. The Louisville Water Company says the increase is necessary to meet federal water standards that go into effect in 2012.Some customers have complained about the increase, which prompted the council’s review, even though Transportation and Public Works Committee co-chair Tina Ward-Pugh says her constituents haven’t been vocal about it.“I’ve had a couple of people mention it to me but to be honest with out I haven’t had an outpouring of concern about this," she says.Ward-Pugh says she’s interested in finding out if the increase can be delayed or phased-in, but she isn’t in favor of rolling back the hike.“There’s no doubt in my mind they would not be asking for this rate increase if they really didn’t believe it was in the best interest of the water, the water quality and the service of providing that quality of water to our community," says Ward-Pugh.The water company typically raises its rates each year. The last two increases were each 6.5%.