Louisville sewage rates to rise 6.9 percent in August

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – The Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District’s board has chosen to increase sewer rates and drainage fees by 6.9 percent starting Aug. 1.

The Courier-Journal (http://cjky.it/28Xqhre ) reports that that’s the largest increase the board can impose without the approval of the Louisville Metro Council, which had rejected the board’s earlier vote to raise rates 20 percent to pay for a backlog of maintenance.

A typical residential customer will pay about $3.38 more per month.

Board members say Louisville residents should expect another attempt next year to further raise the rates, possibly by 20 percent, in order to pay for a backlog of major maintenance.

The maintenance work includes installing new sewage storage basins that are required under an $850 million federal consent decree to reduce overflows into local waterways.

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Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.