Schaumburg water rates rising May 1

Beginning May 1, water and sewer rates in Schaumburg will increase approximately 16 percent to $6.36 per 1,000 gallons. This increase is primarily due to the significant increase in the cost of Lake Michigan water supplied by the City of Chicago. Schaumburg purchases its water through the Northwest Suburban Municipal Joint Action Water Agency (JAWA), which purchases from Chicago. In December, Chicago announced it was increasing the cost of water by 25 percent on Jan. 1, 2012 and an additional 15 percent each Jan. 1 through 2015. An average monthly water bill with 5,000 gallons of usage will cost approximately $5.42 more per month.