Coweta

County water customers will notice a slight increase in

their water bills, after actions taken by the Coweta

County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.

The board

unanimously voted to increase residential water rates by

slightly over 1 cent per 1,000 gallons of use for

residential customers.

Water and

sewer director Harry Hughes examined his own personal

water bill and told the commissioners that his bill would

probably increase by about $5 a month.

The

increase is due to a 5 percent increase the county will

have to pay its water supplier, Newnan Utilities,

starting Jan. 1.

The board

also approved passing the 5 percent increase to the

cities of Senoia and Grantville, starting the first of

the year.

Finally,

the board agreed to up the cost of residential tap-ons to

$750 a meter, up from the current $550.

Commission

Chairman Lawrence Nelms explained the water service was

funded by an enterprise fund, and the rate increase was

necessary to keep the county from asking the taxpayers to

fund the water system.

Hughes

added that although the county has had two dry years and

revenues have exceeded expectations, he is almost certain

the county will have to go to mandatory water

restrictions next year. Water restrictions mean less

water being used and less revenues, he added.

With

Tuesday's increase approved, Hughes does not believe

another increase will be necessary until at least 2002.