The Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Reclamation Division advises customers that the sewer user fee will increase by an average of three percent when rate hikes go into effect on July 1, 2017.

The rate increases were approved by the County Council and department representatives say they are necessary to keep the utility financially self-supporting.

Sewer user fees are structured so each customer class pays its equitable share of operations, maintenance and repair of the wastewater infrastructure.