Water and sewer rates in Osage Beach could increase Jan. 1 if the board of aldermen approves recommendations from city staff.

The board will consider the first reading of two ordinances Thursday night increasing the rates in 2016 and again in 2018 based on a recent rate analysis. Second reading will be Dec. 17.

Public hearings will be held at the Dec. 17 meeting.

Rates are reviewed every two years.

Water rates

Based on a five-year forecast, a recent rate analysis found that the water system would need an additional $300,000 to maintain the system in 2016 and an additional $100,000 in 2018. The new rates, if approved as presented, would be reflected on bills received in early February for January service – payable in mid-February.

The rates are based on a minimum monthly rate for the first 1,000 gallons of water used based on the size of the meter that serves the residence or commercial property. Customers are also billed a volumetric for each additional 1,000 gallons of water used.

For residents living within the city limits, the base rate for all meter sizes and the volumetric rate will increase about 15 percent.

The base rate for a 5/8-inch meter will increase from $17.05 to $19.61 per month. The base rate for the largest meter (6-inch) would increase from $273.83 to $314.90 per month.

For residents living out of the city, rates are substantially higher and also will increase about 15 percent.

The base rate for the smallest meter outside the city will increase from $73.12 per month to $84.09. The largest user outside the city will increase from $1,227.07 to $1,411.13.

The volumetric rate would increase from $1 to $1.15 per 1,000 gallons of water used.

Sewer

Again based on a recent rate analysis, the sewer system will need an additional $150,000 to maintain the system in 2016 and another

$75,000 in 2018. And like the water rate increases, customers would receive heir first bill in February for January service.

There are metered and non-metered sanitary sewer customers in Osage Beach, and each has its own set of rates. For sewer customers on metered service, the sewer volumetric rate is charged at 1,000 gallons of metered water used in excess of the first 1,000 gallons of water. For non-metered customers, the charge will be a monthly flat rate.

The rate increases for metered sewer users will increase about 4 percent. For the smallest metered user, the monthly rate will increase from $15.04 to $15.64; for the largest metered user, the monthly rate will increase from $222.28 to $231.17 per month.

The monthly flat rate for non-metered users will increase from $27.54 to $28.64 for the smallest user, and from $4,906.87 to $5,103.14 per month for the largest users.

Out-of-city non-metered users will see a larger increase, averaging about 7 percent.

The smallest non-metered out-of city user will see an increase from $43.44 a month to $46.53 per month, while the largest user will see an increase from $7,738.21 per month to $8,289.17.