Water rates are heading up in Owen Sound.
But Financial services director Wayne Ritchie says the city is in the middle of the pack compared with similar sized cities.
Ritchie says the City is constantly compared it’s water rates with other communities to make sure they don’t get out of line.
Council finalized the 2009 budget which includes a five per cent hike in the rate for water, and a five per cent boost in sewage rates to 100 percent of the water rate.
Overall, Ritchie says it will work out to about 47 dollars more a year for the average homeowner for water services in the city.
However, he says the increase is in the consumption rate so people can lower their water and sewer bill by using less water.