Columbia City Council approves water rate increase

COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Columbia City Council voted Thursday night to approve a nearly 150% water rate increase tied to the construction of a new water intake and treatment plant estimated to cost more than $500 million.

The final vote came after hours of public comment during a packed meeting that highlighted deep divisions among residents over affordability, growth and long-term planning.

City officials supporting the measure said Columbia’s current water system is aging and insufficient to meet future demand as the city continues to grow. They argued that the new intake and treatment plant is necessary to secure a reliable water supply for decades to come.

Opponents raised sharp concerns about the financial impact, particularly on seniors and families living on fixed incomes. Several residents questioned whether lower-cost alternatives, including purchasing treated water from other systems, were fully explored before committing to the project.

According to city leaders, the approved water rate increase will be phased in over time. When fully implemented, rates are expected to rise by nearly 150% over the next five years, a figure that prompted repeated warnings from residents during public comment earlier this week. CPWS expects — based on the impact fee increase and historical growth data — that those increases will be smaller in the last three years.City leaders said they will continue to monitor the effect of both increases as the project moves forward.