Confusion around proposed water rate increase cleared up

After the Bentonville City Council voted to table their new 100% water rate increase last Tuesday, their was slight confusion on just how much residents’ utility bills could increase.The city’s newly updated FAQ document, found on the city website, addresses the misconception that people’s entire utility bills will increase by 100%. Only the water portion is doubling. Mike Bender, the city’s public works director, said the biggest reason for the increase is inflation and the water loss the city is facing due to hundreds of leaks.So far, 129 miles of the 360 miles of water distribution mains have been inspected by a leak detection company hired by the city.Yasmeen Islam just moved to Bentonville from Oklahoma and said she knew nothing about the study.“I feel like it’s very quiet. I feel like a lot of people don’t know about this — it should be more known and like widely spread, especially saying that it’s going up as high as it is,” Islam said.As a single woman fresh out of college, Islam expressed concern for how this could impact her day-to-day life.“Honestly, the increase is a little scary. I’m out here on my own. I do have family, but I don’t, like, lean on them for support,” she said.”You know, the cash isn’t there. We’ve got to fix the leaks. If we don’t fix the leaks, we won’t be here to grow. So yes, it’s a big ask,” Bender said.There will be two meetings open to the public. March 9 will be a committee of the whole meeting where they will vote to put the study on the agenda for the city council meeting on March 10th. It will then be voted on and, if approved, implemented starting April 1.