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That's because city commissioners approved new sewer and water rates Monday that will push sewer bills up 25 percent Aug. 1 and water bills up 28 percent.

According to a report filed with the commission by Paul H. Boucher Jr., the city's director of financial services, the new rates means the average residential customer in Lapeer will see their annual sewer bill increase from $227.52 to $284.76 and their annual water bill climb from $221.16 to $283.68.

That, according to Boucher's report is based on the average Lapeer home consuming 3,724 gallons of water a month, while generating 3,630 gallons of sewage.

Township residents served by the city's sewer system pay half again what city residents do.

Boucher noted that while the cost of 1,000 cubic feet of water from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department increased 36.9 percent to $14.84 between July 1 and the previous year, the city's water rate is only increasing 28 percent. His report also indicated that nearly 69 percent of the annual water bill goes to maintaining the city's infrastructure.

Earlier this year the city commission agreed to participate in a study that would bring water from Lake Huron to parts of Lapeer, Sanilac, St. Clair, Tuscola, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Livingston and Oakland counties. The study, which is still in its very early stages, will look at two main possibilities. One would put a treatment plant long Lake Huron to provide water to the region, while the other would pump raw water to local communities for treatment.

City commission members approved Lapeer's new sewer and water rates unanimously without discussion.