Ypsilanti residents will see an increase to their water bills beginning in October.
The Ypsilanti City Council members approved an 8% water rate increase at Tuesday night's meeting. The rate hike was blamed on higher costs from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, which Ypsilanti purchases water from. City officials said many municipalities across Southeast Michigan were also facing higher water costs.
The city council also approved a sewer rate increase of 4%. A spokesman for the Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority said a proposal for a graduated rate structure to help customers who use less water would be put before the council in the coming year.