By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

The Pontiac City Council approved an increase in sewer bills during Monday night’s meeting.

City Administrator Bob Karls explained that this increase is due to mandatory and necessary water treatment upgrades, with an estimate of $35 million dollars to be spent over a seven year period.

“For someone who’s sewer bill is around $15 – but keep in mind that the sewer bill also has on it garbage, recycling and many people have the community center feels on there – those aren’t affected. It’s just the sewer portion. An average bill is around $15 and that will increase about seven and a half dollars,” Karls said.

The first of these series of upgrades will begin with the February 1 water usage, which means increases will show up on the March bill.