Water and Sewer Rates May Rise in Mason

According to the Lansing State Journal, Mason residents will likely see a hefty increase in their water and sewer bills if city officials approve a rate increase to build a new public works facility.

City officials hired a firm last year to conduct a study on what the cost to residents would be to build a new $17 million public works facility.

Rates could increase from 45 percent to 59 percent. If the council chooses to not increase rates, that will stop this. They have to increase rates in order to fund the debt to do the building.

The new plant would be able to handle 7 million gallons per day and would primarily be funded through a water and sewer increase.

The city plans to demolish and relocate the current Department of Public Works Building, as its present location is in the way of where the new waste water treatment plant must go.

The primary cause of the issue is storm water getting into sanitary sewer lines. The city has seen this happen more often, mainly due to an increase in heavy rainfall in a short time period.