In a workshop Tuesday, the Village Council discussed water charges in neighboring communities, such as Edgewood, Cedar Crest and Moriarty, and took into account the average water usage of residents to come up with a new figure for charges.

The town's water ordinance was adopted in 1994, and water prices have not gone up since then.

"We're in the process of catching up from way-back-when," said Councilor Gilbert Gutierrez.

The workshop was held for councilors to discuss the rates, but it may be several months before the ordinance is finalized and the new rates go into effect.

Their plan is to increase the price of water for residential users for the first 3,000 gallons from $10.50 to $12 and from $3 to $8 for each additional 1,000 gallons.

With the exception of a few residents who use much more water each month, according to discussion at the meeting, the average use in the village is less than 4,000 gallons per month, so most residents would be charged about $20 per month for water, up from about $13 per month now.

Charges for commercial users were also discussed. The rate schedule discussed for businesses was slightly different, but taking an average use of about 13,000 gallons per month, according to council estimates, their charges will go from about $50 to $70 per month.

The council also discussed rates for companies using water for construction. The companies would be required to use a meter that the village would rent out for a $750 deposit and $150 fee. Under the proposal, when the meter is returned to the village in working order, the $750 would be returned and $150 put into a fund for replacing and maintaining the water meters.

Companies doing work on village projects would not be charged for water and charges for other projects would be standard commercial rates, according to the discussion.

The council discussed making other changes, such as eliminating a bulk residential use rate, which they said was problematic. The bulk rate essentially sells water for people to haul outside of the village, and when that water is used it doesn't replenish the aquifer.

According to Councilor Tina King, eliminating that rate goes along with an underlying concept behind charging higher rates, which could help discourage excessive water use.

"We don't want wells to run dry," she said.