Sulphur council approves modest utility increases as residents press water-quality concerns

The Sulphur City Council on an evening vote approved a set of utility rate changes that city staff said are needed to finance water and wastewater projects and continue operations. The council approved a 7.53% increase to water rates this year (a roughly $2.90 per month contribution to the average bill) as part of a $3.75 monthly total bill increase, and a smaller 1.68% increase to the city's wastewater charge (from $32.65 to $33.20). The council also approved a 10-cent increase to the monthly capital recovery fee and raised the monthly low-income utility assistance from $24 to $27.75.

City staff framed the measures as incremental steps to fund required infrastructure work and to qualify for state program financing. Miss Storm, a city utility staff member who presented the rate study, said the recommended increases follow a formal rate study done for applications to the state's water sector program: "This year, the water utility increase we're proposing is 7.53%... the study came back that we would need to increase rates this year and next year, both by 7 and a half percent." City staff said the revenue will support work already authorized through the state's water sector funding and upcoming projects at the Verdon plant, including a lamellar clarifier to remove iron and manganese before filtration.

Why it matters: Residents told the council the water is visibly problematic and want faster upgrades. Several speakers said they do not drink city…