Wholesale water and sewage rates are increasing

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) board voted Wednesday to increase water service charges by 5.9% and wastewater charges by 4.5%.

But what you pay at home may be more.

The GLWA provides service to many local communities who then set their own rates, adding a markup to cover local costs.

In a release sent after the meeting, the GLWA says that the price of chemicals, utilities and construction materials has risen nearly 55% since 2020.

There's also a new multi-year flood mitigation study in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where the Corps and GLWA split the $6 million cost 50/50.

GLWA's 2026 budget is $954 million, up $48 million from the year before.

Public comment lasted three hours, with residents and local leaders like former state rep. Cynthia A. Johnson and Utica mayor Gus Calandrino in opposition.

The rate increases take effect July 1, after an annual 4% rate increase cap expires.