The City of Bixby is increasing the cost of water, due to the increase in the city of Tulsa's water. Tulsa is Bixby's main water source, the increase will be in effect on the next bill for Bixby residents which is November 30th.
Bixby's officials said instead of $8.81 per 1000 gallons, the new rate will be $9.73.
"We buy all of our drinking water from the city of Tulsa. As part of their scheduled rate increase that we go ahead and pass that rate increase to the Bixby customers," Bixby's City Engineer Jared Cottle said.
Here's how it's broken down: the increase for the first 1000 gallons of water has gone up from $8.81 to $9.73. After the first 1000 gallons, it's up to $4.61 from $3.69.
City engineer Jared Cottle said the two water connections that Bixby currently uses from Tulsa, are not going to be big enough to supply water for future developments in Bixby. That's why this third connection is in the works, a connection that has been thought out thoroughly according to Cottle.
"We did look at Jenks and Owasso and compared their rates to what our rate structure would be. So they could give us a feel where that would put us so water rates we're right there with everyone else," Cottle said.
Clayton Hilton, a Bixby resident, feels the timing of the water rate increase isn't right.
"With our economy like it is now a days, we're struggling to pay what we have. Without having to pay extra, we just don't think its right," Bixby resident Clayton Hilton said.
The price increase in water began November 1st but it won't show up on bills until November 30th.
