The St. Bernard Parish Council has approved an ordinance amendment that nearly doubles resident's water and sewer rates.
It triples them for some commercial users.
The council said yesterday that the rate increase will help improve water quality. It comes about a year after a brain-eating amoeba was found in the water system.
The parish's water and sewerage rates had not changed since 1997. The average residence in St. Bernard will see its water rate jump from about $13 a month to $24 a month.
The average sewer rate will increase from about $15 a month to $36 a month.
NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports the parish will use the rate increases to pay acquire and pay interest on two state loans needed for capital improvements.