The Village of Bethlehem has announced that water rates will increase for customers in the village starting April 6.

In a release from the village, officials said a 38% increase from the City of Wheeling, which provides the village’s water, late last year led to village council to vote for an overall rate increase of 38%.

“During the years spanning 1984 through the present time, the village has experienced numerous water rate increases from the City of Wheeling,” the release read. Several water rate increases imposed on the village by the City of Wheeling were able to be absorbed by the village without an increase of water rates to the village residents.

“Because the cost and expenses of the operation and maintenance of the water utility system of the village of Bethlehem have substantially increased during the past four years, the increased water treatment cost rates have to be passed on to the customers of the water utility system in order to maintain the operation of the village water system at efficient levels, to comply with the West Virginia Public Service Commission requirements and to comply with the provisions of the financial requirements of the village, (so) it has been necessary to increase the rates and charges for water utility service.”

The average monthly increase for residential customers will be $17.72 and will be $28.66 for commercial customers. Individual customers may receive increases that are greater or less than the average, the village stated. For example, a person using between 0 and 3,000 gallons of water per month will experience a $17.72 cent per month increase. And a person using 6,000 gallons of water per month will pay $15.37 more per month. The amount of the increase to each customer is directly dependent upon the amount of water usage by the customer.

A complete copy of the ordinance increasing the water rates and charges is available to all customers at the village offices located at 125 Bethlehem Park in Bethlehem for inspection during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Any customer aggrieved by the changed rates or charges may appeal those rates to the West Virginia Public Service Commission by writing to: Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, 201 Brooks Street, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia, 25323, and by filing a petition signed by not less than 25% of the customers served by the Village of Bethlehem Water Utility.