Water rates are going up for Marion customers following action Monday at the city council meeting.
The council voted unanimously to increase the base cost of city water from $24 to $26 which includes the first 1,000 gallons and for every 1,000 gallons after that the price would go from $2.50 to $3.75.
Marion City Administrator David Mayfield said the price hike was necessary because the Environmental Protection Agency is looking at E.coli from reservoirs. In nine out of 24 tests Marion Reservoir has 134 units of E.coli.
?The problem,? he said, ?is we cannot exceed 240 units, and it?s obvious to me we will exceed that amount,? he said. ?Hills?boro has the same thing.?
Mayfield said the testing requires certified labs and there are none in Kansas. As a result this will cost between $25,000 to $35,000 to have samples sent off.
For a full report of Monday?s meeting, go to hillsborofree?press.com.
