TRUMBULL COUNTY Panel will probably OK 2% water-rate increase

The rate increase is necessary because Warren raised its price for water.
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners are expected to approve a 2 percent water rate increase today that will affect about half the customers of the county water system.
Water customers in Bazetta, Champion, Howland and Warren Township will on average see a 50-cent increase in monthly water bills issued after Dec. 1, when the new rates go into effect, said Thomas Holloway, county sanitary engineer.
The higher rates will cover a price increase for bulk water piped to these areas from the city of Warren, he said.
Warren's rate schedule
Under a schedule approved by city council in 2001, the city's price for bulk water increased 4 percent in November.
It will increase an additional 4.5 percent in November 2004.
"They increased their price of water to us, so they are passing it along," Holloway said.
Customers in affected areas will pay an additional 10 cents per 1,000 gallons of water under the new rates.
Current agreements allow the city to raise the rates it charges the county for water sold outside the city, as long as Warren also raises rates for city customers.
The rate increases were initially passed in 2001 to pay for $12 million worth of improvements to bring the city's water filtration plant up to EPA standards.