Water rates to increase in Harlingen

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Harlingen commissioners increased water rates Wednesday for a sewer overhaul. This is the cities first water rate increase in over a decade and looks to increase rates by 50%.

The increase will start in May, leading into Harlingen Waterworks’ five-year plan. Over $250 million will go into the plan in order to fix the current sewer system’s danger of sewage overflow.

Harlingen District 2 Commissioner Daniel Lopez explained the project, saying ”We are going to be doing a massive sewer line which is called the little Creek mainline, right, that will then be able to handle all the sewer water from throughout the city.”

The ordinance reading took place at Harlingen City Hall at 5:30 p.m.