NYC Weighs Water Rate Hike

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

Today the city's Water Board is expected to consider a double digit water rate hike. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

REPORTER: The proposal to increase water bills by 14 percent follows a similar boost last year. City Council Finance Chair David Weprin says the back-to-back hikes put excessive pressure on struggling New Yorkers.

WEPRIN: With the middle class trying to make a living in the City the water rates are becoming another property tax.

REPORTER: The average annual water bill for a city household is close to $800. As part of an ambitious $20 billion upgrade of its water and sewer infrastructure, the city is building a third water tunnel to back up parts of the system that are a century old. For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.

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