Editor’s note: The original version of this story contained factual errors. The story below is correct. We regret the errors and are happy to set the record straight.

NATCHEZ — Letting the tap run while you brush your teeth may soon get a little more expensive in Natchez.

The Natchez Board of Aldermen heard a proposal Tuesday from the Natchez Water Works Board that would increase the rate structure for water and sewer accounts maintained by Natchez Water Works. The board voted to attend the Water Works Board meeting next week.

Delores Vines, the chairperson for the Water Works board of commissioners, made the request to the board.

“While no one wants a rate increase, the board of water commissioners has recommended a modest increase to keep Water Works viable,” Vines said. “We have done a number of surveys to compare our rates with comparable sized cities, and each time we have found that our rates were not the highest or the lowest. We feel that in the middle is the place to be on such a list.”

The last water rate increase was in 2007. Under the new increase, the minimum bill would move from $10 for 300 cubic feet of water to $11 for 250 cubic feet of water.

The increase would also move the price of $2.46 per 100 cubic feet over the minimum to $2.66.

The current average bill of $18.19 for water and sewer services — approximately 633 cubic feet of water consumed per billing cycle — will increase to $21.19.

The increase is needed to cover escalating costs and declining customer base, Vines said. Water Works has lost 450 customers since 1994 due to population decline.

But Water Works also needs to expand to annexed areas in the city limits, especially along U.S. 61 South, Vines said.

“The need for a third elevated water tank in the new industrial port area to boost our firefighting capacity is becoming more evident,” she said. “Recently, with all the new industries that have settled in Natchez, some additional challenges have been posed in treating high strength wastewater, creating a need for modifications and expansion of the wastewater treatment plant.”

Water Works also has to deal with a $20,000 unfunded mandate from the Mississippi Department of Health for water quality testing, Vines said.

The increase would be implemented over five years.