The D.C. Water and Sewer Authority is getting ready to raise rates, a move which could cost the average resident $100 more per year. The hike wouldn’t take hold until next year, but officials say they plan an additional 8.5% increase in 2009 followed by 9.5% increases in both 2010 and 2011. WASA plans a public hearing on the move, but, of course, neither the D.C. Council nor customers have any say on the issue.

The utility certainly faces major challenges in delivering safe drinking water and managing area sewers. A massive effort to replace lead pipes has been underway for years, but still has far to go. WASA also has to worry about a recent report by the National Capital Planning Commission warning that a major rain storm is a serious threat to most of downtown D.C., especially the National Mall. The commission said sewer capacity needs to be increased in order to avoid the type of road closures and flooding of key federal buildings we saw last year. In addition, upgrades are needed to avoid freezing water mains from breaking, causing major service interruptions every winter.

WASA faces a bit of a Catch-22 when dealing with rate hikes. Customers complain that their children can’t drink the water and main breaks are a frustrating fact of life each winter. In order to fix these problems, the utility needs serious cash to replace ancient pipes, so they raise rates for residents who already feel they’re not getting their money’s worth. Let’s hope the higher rates translate into real improvements in the area’s water management, that could make those bigger checks a little easier to write.

Photo by Flickr user billadler.