Residents in the City of Laurel could soon see increases in their water and sewer rates.

Last year, after several delays, some concern and revisions, the city established new rates for its garbage, water and sewer services.

Now, officials say more changes are needed to the city’s water and sewer rates to ensure that the utility funds are self-sustaining.

Eric Page with Neel-Schaffer Engineering assisted the city in outlining the changes.

The Laurel City Council in last week’s council meeting approved the first reading of ordinances establishing rate changes with the city’s water and sewer collection fees.

Laurel’s Chief Administrative Officer Dennis Keveryn told the council at a recent meeting that the proposed changes would correct some concern about last year’s changes.

The proposed changes for residential and commercial users were presented to the council during its Aug. 12 agenda setting meeting and voted on during the Aug. 18 meeting.

Officials said the proposed rates will take residents’ minimum charge back to what it was prior to last year’s change.

Last year, the city’s sewer rate changed from the minimum $15 charge for 4,000 gallons and went to the new rate for residential customers inside the city limits having a base fee of $3.25 and the sewer charge being $2.20 per thousand gallons used.

Now, according to the proposed ordinances, residential customers inside the city limits would have a minimum $15 sewer charge for 3,000 gallons and $4 per thousand gallons used beyond the first 3,000. There will also be a minimum $10 water charge for 3,000 gallons and $2.50 per thousand gallons used beyond the first 3,000.

For residents outside the city, the base fee is currently $3.50 and the sewer charge is $2.25 per thousand gallons.

Now, according to the proposed ordinances, residents outside the city will have a minimum charge of $22.50 for sewer and $6 per thousand gallons used beyond the first 3,000. For water, there will be a minimum $15 charge for 3,000 gallons and $3.75 per thousand gallons used beyond the first 3,000.

Commercial customers inside the city and industrial customers now have a base fee of $9 for sewer and pay $2.30 per thousand gallons. For water the base fee is $6 and $2.25 per thousand gallons.

According to the proposed ordinances, commercial customers inside the city will pay a minimum sewer charge of $17 for the first 3,000 gallons and $4 per thousand gallons used beyond the first 3,000. Those outside the city will pay a minimum charge of $25.50 for the first 3,000 gallons and $6 per thousand gallons used beyond the first 3,000.

Also, commercial customers inside the city will pay a minimum water charge of $15 for the first 3,000 gallons and $2.50 per thousand gallons used beyond the first 3,000. Those outside the city will pay a minimum water charge of $22.50 for the first 3,000 gallons and $3.75 per thousand gallons used beyond the first 3,000.

According to the proposed ordinances, industrial customers fees will not change.

Industrial customers are now charged a combined water/sewer rate of $3.08 per thousand gallons.

To qualify for industrial rates, the customer shall average five million or more gallons a month for a 12-month period.

Currently, industrial users outside the city limits now pay for sewer at the rate of $2.91 per thousand gallons of water used. Also where a special pump station is required, such industrial user pays an additional fee of $600 per month for operation and maintenance. These things will not change under the proposed ordinances.

However, the city’s bulk water sales from Water Plant No. 2 will be charged at a rate of $2.40 per thousand gallons.

Officials said the changes to the rates are needed to ensure that the public utility remain adequately funded.

These ordinances, however, will have to go through a second reading by the Laurel City Council before they are enacted.