Local water company raises rates by nearly 6%

<p>Local Indiana American Water customers will pay, on average, about $2 more starting this month.</p><p>Water bills will increase as part of a Greenwood-based water company’s two-step plan to invest more money in improvements, including millions of dollars in Johnson County.</p><p>Indiana American Water received approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission in 2018 to increase water rates for its customers in two-phases, starting in June 2019.</p><p>The first phase increased rates by nearly 2%. The second increase, which took effect Friday, increased rates by almost 6%, according to an Indiana American Water news release. The total increase is 7.9%, the news release said.</p><p>Water bills for most residential customers using 4,000 gallons of water a month will go up about $2.22 cents per month this year, according to the news release. Last summer, bills went up about 34 cents per month.</p><p>After the increase last year, a typical Johnson County resident paid about $35 per month in water bills. That average will jump to more than $37 this month.</p><p>Indiana American Water will use the additional income to invest $542 million into water infrastructure improvements to increase water quality and system reliability, capacity and safety, according to the news release.</p><p>About $79 million of that was invested at three treatment facilities to, among other things, add ultraviolet disinfection, which adds an extra layer of protection against chlorine-resistant microbes, viruses and pathogens that may be present in surface water sources, the news release said.</p><p>Other projects included replacing or updating various aging water facilities and replacing 120 miles of aging water main, according to the news release.</p><p>More than $33 million is being invested in Johnson County projects, said Joseph Loughmiller, spokesperson for Indiana American Water. </p><p>Of that investment, $14 million went to replace or relocate hydrants and nearly 14 miles of water mains; more than $4.2 million to install new meters and service lines; and more than $15 million for improvements to pumping, treatment, storage and operations facilities.</p><p>Major projects in the county included converting the existing chlorine gas disinfection system at water treatment facilities to improve safety, replacing two 20-year-old emergency backup generators at treatment and pumping facilities, replacing the West Tank pump station and installing two new wells to replace existing wells that are nearly 50 years old.</p>