As Columbia citizens prepare to vote on a proposed $42.8 million water bond issue Tuesday, the City Council is considering a change in the city’s billing structure that could push water bills even higher.
The council on Monday night will introduce an ordinance that recommends amending city water rates to charge higher amounts for people who use a lot of water in the summer, when demand is highest.
Ryan Williams, assistant director of Columbia Water and Light, said it’s an effort to encourage water conservation.
The new system will include three billing tiers. The first 200 cubic feet of water used per month from June through September would cost $2.79 per 100 cubic feet. That rate would rise to $3.91 per 100 cubic feet until use exceeds 800 cubic feet in a month. Beyond that, the rate would be $4.89 per 100 cubic feet.
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