Water bills for Green Bay residents will increase Aug. 1 for the first time in four years

GREEN BAY — Water will become more expensive for Green Bay residents starting Aug. 1, the first cost increase in four years, the city's water utility announced Monday morning.

Here's what you need to know ahead of your next water bill:

How much will my Green Bay water bill increase?

Green Bay Water, the company that services water to more than 100,000 residents, says the average residential household will pay $12 more every quarter.

That's an average increase of one-tenth of a penny per gallon of water each quarter. (A typical household uses 10,473 gallons of water every three months, according to the utility.)

Customers will pay 32% more for the utility to get water to their homes and support infrastructure to maintain clean water to residents in what's called the "meter charge." The cost of fire protection will go up by 12%, as will the price per 100 cubic feet of water serviced to homes.

Why will my Green Bay water bill get more expensive?

The water utility is not supported by taxes. It relies on what it charges customers for the upkeep of pipes and facilities that make water from Lake Michigan safe to use.

After four years without adjusting rates, the planned change is necessary for the city's system to continue giving residents potable water and pay for upgrades where it was needed, said Brian Powell, the general manager for Green Bay Water, in Monday's announcement.

"I am proud to say that even with this increase our water will still be under a penny per gallon" he said in the statement.

How was the increase in water rates decided?

Since late last year, the water utility planned on a summer rate increase .

The company must bring any proposed rate changes to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, which it did on Jan. 3. The commission then gives its approval or rejects the changes.

When will water bills increase in Green Bay?

The new rates will be effective starting Aug. 1.

Here's a detailed breakdown of the cost increases by service

Meter charge

• Before Aug. 1: $20.40
• After Aug. 1: $27, a $6.60 increase

Fire protection

• Before Aug. 1: $7.35
• After Aug. 1: $8.25, a 90-cent increase

Rate per 100 cubic feet of water used

• Before Aug. 1: $2.66
• After Aug. 1: $3, a 34-cent increase

Jesse Lin covers the Green Bay community and politics in northeastern Wisconsin. An East Coast native who's lived primarily in Appalachia and Pennsylvania, he graduated with a master's in journalism from Columbia University prior to working at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact him at jlin@gannett.com or call 920-431-8247.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Water bills for Green Bay residents will increase Aug. 1 for the first time in four years