5-percent increase in water rates approved for Wichita in 2020 to fund new treatment facility

The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a 5-percent water and sewer rate increase in 2020 to help fund Wichita’s new water treatment facility.

The rate adjustment, which is expected to gradually increase over the next few years, will fund a small portion of the $553 million total project cost for the Northwest Water Treatment Facility, a project that will replace Wichita’s existing 80-year-old plant.

With the new combined water and sewage rate increase, homeowners are expected to pay between $2 and $7 more each month, while commercial businesses are expected to face about a $28 increase. Industrial customers will average a $2,600 increase each month.