LEWISTON – Councilors ratified a 22 percent water rate increase on Tuesday that gives small water users a slight break.

Councilors voted 5-1 to approve a rate hike that will pay for increased debt service and lower revenues.

The minimum charge, for users of 1,200 cubic feet of water or less, would increase from $30.60 to $33.60 every three months – a 9.8 percent increase. Customers using 1,600 cubic feet of water per quarter – about 4,000 gallons per month, typical for a household of four – would see their bills increase about $20 per year.

Commercial and industrial users will see bigger increases. Bob Foss, who owns the Country Lane Estates mobile home park, said he faces a 35.5 percent increase. That’s unfair, he said.

“I hear you talk and talk about these infrastructure improvements, but I figured the city would have taken these things into consideration before,” he said.

Water customers will see bills based on the new rates after July.

The city increased water rates in 2005 by 15 percent. City officials blame the increase on two new water reservoirs on Ferry and Webber roads as well as emergency repairs to small water mains around the city last summer.

Those issues pushed debt service costs alone up nearly $500,000.