Rockford Residents See Water Bills Soar 'Literally Overnight'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Imagine watching your water bill go up more than $600 in one month.

It happened to dozens of residents in the city of Rockford.

"There was no way I was expecting to jump from $131 to $400. It's just a little crazy," said homeowner Andy Edeburn.

As a gardener, Edeburn and his family are used to paying a slightly higher water bill. But what came in the mail Wednesday felt like a flash flood.

"Some cities do a 2, 3, 4 percent increase on an annual basis," Edeburn said. "Suddenly, we get hit with a 60 percent increase, literally overnight."

Edeburn is far from alone.

Homeowners across Rockford took to the city's Facebook page to complain about water bills as high as $800.

One homeowner we talked with moved in in April. Because of new sod, she's been running her in-ground sprinkler three times a day. As a result, her water bill increased more than $600 this month.

The higher the bill, the more likely the homeowner has a sprinkler system.

"It wasn't a mistake," said city administrator Dan Madsen.

While homeowners complained they weren't fairly warned, Madsen said meetings were held, there was an online post, and even a postcard was sent out.

Madsen said a deficit, along with a wastewater upgrade, resulted in a more than $2 increase in water and wastewater rates last month.

"If you have a deficit and you tack on a multi-million dollar project, you have to pay for that somehow," Madsen said.

But Madsen said the city will revisit the rates.

And he said they'll also look at ways to give homeowners with sprinkler systems some relief.

Right now, they're paying an increased wastewater rate while their water goes into their lawn.

"We need to see about giving them some relief somehow," Madsen said. "I would expect everyone in the community to see some immediate relief and relief moving forward."

The city of Rockford will hold a town hall meeting to discuss the new water bill rates and possible changes.

That will happen next Thursday (Sept. 4) at the Rockford Fire Department. It will begin at 6 p.m.