Oklahoma City residents may pay more for water

Residential customers could expect to pay an additional $3.36 per month on their Oklahoma City utility bills next year under a proposed rate increase.

New revenue is to fund system improvements in the years ahead — including a second pipeline from reservoirs in southeastern Oklahoma.

A public hearing is planned Nov. 7 by the city council. The measure is being introduced at Tuesday’s council meeting, at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall.

The city expects to incur $2.5 billion in costs related to utilities capital improvements by 2027, including for water treatment and wastewater treatment upgrades.

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board last month granted Oklahoma City a permit for 115,000 acre feet of water annually from the Kiamichi River basin.

Oklahoma City has storage rights to water at Sardis Lake reservoir in the basin.

Sardis will become the third reservoir in a complex including Lake Atoka and McGee Creek reservoir serving Oklahoma City’s anticipated growth.

The rate increase going before the council is intended to raise funds necessary to meet obligations including debt service through 2021.

A financial impact report says the typical residential customer would pay $3.36 more per month, or about $40 annually, starting Jan. 1.

The report says similar increases would take effect on Jan. 1 in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Annual residential bills could be $160 higher by 2021.

A large hospital would pay an additional $1,515 per month the first year, a shopping center $485 per month, an office park $170 per month, and a restaurant $58 per month.

Charges are for treated drinking water and for wastewater treatment. A residence would pay $2.08 more for water and $1.28 for sewer.

The typical residence uses 7,000 gallons of water per month, according to the financial impact statement.