Both water and sewer rates will increase in Auburn on April 1.

The Auburn Water and Sewerage Districts will each raise rates by 8%, officials say, to maintain operations, combat rising inflation, replace water meters (an estimated $2.7 million project) and replace the Washington Street pumping station (an estimated $2.3 million project).

The increase equates to about 6 cents a day or about $2 more a month on the average water customer’s bill, according to District Superintendent Michael Broadbent. Sewer customers will see about an 8-cent increase per day or $2.50 per month more on their bills.

Water rates were last boosted in 2020 when a 14.9% increase was applied, according to Broadbent. Sewer rates were last increased in 2022 by 9.5%.

Auburn Water and Sewerage has always tried to keep operating costs as low as possible and has some of the lowest rates in the state, Broadbent said. Of systems statewide with more than 1,200 customers, Auburn has the fourth lowest quarterly rate, according to data shared by Broadbent.

But the rate increases are necessary to ensure the department is operational into the future, he said.

“To ensure high quality of service into the future, we will need to invest more aggressively to repair, upgrade and improve our infrastructure and facilities,” he said. “These rate increases are an important step in that process.”

There will be a public hearing on the rate increase Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Water and Sewerage office, 268 Court St.