water
Residents in Wisconsin Rapids and Nekoosa are reporting increases ranging from 30 to 100 percent on their most recent water bills.
While, the rising costs are frustrating for consumers, officials say they are necessary to keep the service up and running.
"We're continually trying to keep our plant upgraded, modernized," said Gary Flugaur, Wisconsin Rapids Water Works, "putting in a new well, things like that. It drives the cost."
Security upgrades following the 9/11 terrorist attacks also upped the water costs according to Flugaur, who says the average increase for rapids customers was around 16 percent.
