Larchmont Approves Water Rate Increase

Larchmont residents will have to start monitoring their water consumption with a keener eye—and it's because of finances, not the heat.

At a Larchmont village board meeting earlier this week, the board approved a 35 percent water rate increase. Village officials have been in talks about the hike since April, when mayor Josh Mandell announced rising costs within the New York City water supply system, the village's water source.

Until now, the village was able to maintain unchanging water rates regardless of yearly increases by the New York City Water Board. But New York City announced a 25 percent rate increase at the tail end of July—and coupled with village's dwindling surplus funds, the current rate increase was unavoidable. 

The hike isn't an anomaly; earlier in the year, the Village of Mamaroneck increased its water rates to help fund other projects and combat a surplus of rain.