Honolulu Board of Water Supply wants to raise rates 70 percent

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply wants to increase water rates by 9.65 percent each year for the next five fiscal years, for a total increase of 70 percent. 

This January, the rate would go from $2.79 for every 1,000 gallons of water to $3.06. The average single-family-home customer would see an additional $6.99 in their monthly water bills during the first year of the proposed increase.

The current average bill of $39.19 would climb $27.53 to $66.72 on July 1, 2015, the beginning of the 2016 fiscal year. 

The agency said it wants to revise its water rate schedule to "fund the operation, maintenance, and replacement of Oahu's aging water infrastructure."

"The funding will facilitate proactive pipeline replacement to minimize water main breaks and also be used to renew our pumps, reservoirs and treatment plants,"?said acting water supply Manager Dean?Nakano. 

A public hearing on the proposed increase will be held Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Board of Water Supply headquarters on Beretania Street. The agency's board of directors will make the final decision on the proposal.